Aviation

Safran to manufacture engines for India’s 5th gen AMCA stealth fighter

India is close to sealing an agreement with France for the joint development of a 125KN engine for the indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), according to defence officials..

The Defense Research Organization (DRDO) and Safran, a French engine maker, may be collaborating on the aforementioned transaction, which is likely to be finalised in the next two months.

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme is an Indian effort to produce fifth-generation fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force and Navy, as well as sixth-generation specialty technology.

The original concept featured a twin-engine stealth aircraft with an internal weapons bay and Diverterless Supersonic Intake, which was proposed in 2009. According to reports, the final design is now complete, and the 25-tonne aircraft would have an internal payload of 1,500 kg and an exterior payload of 5,500 kg, with 6,500 kg of internal fuel.

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The AMCA will be available in stealth and non-stealth versions, and will be produced in two phases: an AMCA MK1 using an existing GE414 engine, and an AMCA Mk2 with a more sophisticated, more powerful engine that will be collaboratively developed.

Officials stated that once the agreement with France is finalised, development of the aircraft and engine will proceed in parallel to meet the deadlines. The aircraft will be manufactured and produced through a Special Purpose Vehicle, which will also incorporate private sector.

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Safran and HAL collaborated on the Shakti engine, which powers the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter and its variants.

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India will have the world’s fifth Generation technologically advanced aeroplane. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, the Chinese Chengdu J-20, and the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 are the only operating 5th generation fighters as of December 2020.

Aviation

Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Manufacturing After Seven-Week Strike

In a crucial move for its recovery, Boeing has restarted production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner, about a month after a significant seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers came to an end.

This marks a key milestone for the planemaker, which has been facing considerable challenges in recent years, including heavy debt and a series of setbacks.

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According to the report from Reuters, Boeing resumed the production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, a pivotal step as the company aims to meet the growing global demand for air travel. With over 4,200 orders from airlines, Boeing’s ability to get the 737 MAX production line back in motion is vital for its financial recovery.

Although Boeing had previously planned to restart production earlier, the company faced numerous obstacles that delayed this process. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker told Reuters on Thursday that while Boeing had not yet resumed production, they had plans to restart by the end of the month.

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The road to this point has been rocky for Boeing. Setbacks such as the tragic fatal crashes of the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, production safety concerns, and increased regulatory scrutiny have all contributed to delays in the company’s efforts to ramp up production.

The seven-week strike, which involved thousands of Boeing’s factory workers, added yet another hurdle. Despite these challenges, production of the 737 MAX officially resumed on Friday, according to one of the anonymous sources.

Boeing, however, declined to comment on the matter. The planemaker is now focused on reaching its goal of producing 56 737 MAX airplanes per month, a target that has been delayed due to the many issues that have beset the company over the past few years.