Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu underscored the critical importance of developing indigenous civil aircraft during a recent address at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He stated that this initiative would not only highlight India’s aerospace capabilities but also position the country as a preferred manufacturing hub, encompassing everything from design to production.
Naidu highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India to emerge as a leading aviation hub by the end of the decade and to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047. He pointed out the need for Indian institutions to adapt to technological advancements in the aviation sector, expressing concern that foreign companies often hesitate to transfer cutting-edge technologies, limiting Indian competitiveness.
“Our institutions must adapt to the growing reliance on technology throughout the design lifecycle. Many foreign companies are hesitant to transfer advanced technologies to India without retaining significant management control, often opting to license outdated technologies instead. This situation has impeded the competitiveness of Indian companies in the global market,” he said.
“Therefore, our R&D labs need to focus on developing globally competitive innovations to bolster our aviation industry and achieve the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’ This will necessitate disruptive innovation,” he added.
Naidu praised CSIR-NAL for its significant contributions over 65 years to both civil and defense aerospace, particularly in developing the indigenous Hansa-3 trainer aircraft and the Saras MK-2 Light Transport Aircraft. The minister acknowledged the positive responses from flight training organisations regarding the Hansa-NG aircraft and plans to expand the number of such organisations from 37 to over 80 in the next five years to meet growing pilot training demands.
Furthermore, the aviation minister also discussed the Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) programme, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing capabilities. He noted that global companies like Airbus and Boeing have shown interest in collaborating on the RTA, which is expected to enhance innovation and competitiveness.
The minister commended CSIR-NAL’s advanced testing facilities and its initiatives, including the conceptualisation of a National Drone Hub and projects like the Electric Hansa and Urban Air Taxi. Naidu also released the Aircraft Manuals for Hansa-NG to support flight training organisations and aircraft manufacturers.