IAF team at HAL for speedy completion of projects
The HAL has often been in the line of fire over delays in the indigenous aircraft programmes and for not meeting the expectations of its biggest customer the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has often been in the line of fire over delays in the indigenous aircraft programmes and for not meeting the expectations of its biggest customer the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Now, in an attempt to fast track production and narrow the gap, the air force has positioned a team at the defence PSU.
The team headed by an officer of the rank of Air Vice Marshal, who apart from acting as a go-between the vendor and the user, will also oversee that the programmes are completed at the earliest.
“To enhance the urgency for the programmes, we now have positioned a team at HAL headed by an Air Vice Marshal,” said DC Kumaria, vice chief of the airforce.
IAF has been lobbying to have one of its men at helm at the HAL to improve coordination and working efficiency between the two as several critical projects like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) are running behind schedule.
However, the Ministry of Defence did not heed to this demand and instead went ahead with the time tested formula by appointing a Chief selected by the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB).
Among the programmes which the IAF wants HAL to prioritise is the IJT.