Aerospace

Indian Air Force receives first LCA Tejas twin-seater aircraft

First LCA Mark1A fighter aircraft squadron to be deployed at Nal air base

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive the first-ever twin-seater Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru. Ajay Bhatt, the state minister for defense, attended this historic event at the LCA Tejas division factory of HAL with Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.

First series production LCA Tejas trainer carries out first flight(Opens in a new browser tab)

The delivery of all 83 aircraft is anticipated to be finished by 2029, with HAL delivering the first three aircraft in the third year (2024) and 16 aircraft a year for the subsequent five years.

HAL hands over the first LCA Tejas twin seater to IAF in presence of Rakha Rajya Mantri, Mr Ajay Bhatt at a ceremony in Bengaluru.“I am proud to be part of this historic occasion and salute the spirit of HAL which has been spearheading Swadeshi manufacturing in Defence”, he said. pic.twitter.com/wHv5mj9XkU— HAL (@HALHQBLR) October 4, 2023

“We have now agreed to a contract for 83 more LCAs, and we want to buy 97 more LCAs. The Indian Air Force will purchase a fleet of 220 LCAs in the upcoming years. The nation should be proud of itself, the IAF head declared on Wednesday.

The LCA Tejas twin seater is a 4.5-generation, lightweight, multi-role aircraft. According to HAL, it combines modern ideas and technology including effortless maneuvering, advanced glass cockpits, integrated digital avionics systems, and advanced composite materials for the airframe. Other features include relaxed static stability, quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control, and relaxed static stability.

India plans to build HAL Tejas fighter jet manufacturing line in Egypt.(Opens in a new browser tab)

As a result, India joins a select group of “very few” developed nations that have developed such skills and implemented them in their armed forces, the report stated, adding that this is yet another accomplishment for the government of India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.

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Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.