Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) released the book “Indian Aircraft Industry – A Brief
History & The Way Forward” authored by Dr. C. G. Krishnadas Nair,
President, SIATI & Former Chairman, HAL, at an event held at HAL Corporate
Office, Bangalore on 27 February 2026.
A brief review
Dr. CG Krishnadas Nair is a jewel among the
technology and industry leaders in Aerospace and Defence. He was the
Managing Director of HAL from 1988 to 1997 and later on Chairman of HAL; he led
a quiet but revolutionary transformation of HAL to become a high technology,
cost and quality competitive and profit global player through R&D,
diversification, partnership with private industries and SMEs developing
reliable and innovative supply chain partners. He spearheaded indigenous
development of advanced aerospace materials and processes and manufacturing
technology for components, structures and enhanced the capability and capacity
of the Indian aerospace industry through partnership and sharing technology
with private sector industries. His leadership as founder President of Society
of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries (SIATI) and of “Society of
Defence Entrepreneurs and Technologists” was instrumental in pioneering new
relationships between Public Sector and Private Sector including SMEs as
Innovation & Technology partners in the Aerospace & Defence Sector.
The Society of Aerospace Studies, New
Delhi founded by my father Mr. Pushpindar Singh Chopra, had the privilege of
publishing his book ‘Flight 99 HAL–Story of Transformation of HAL (2003) and
‘Make in India - Strategy for
Partnership (2014).
In keeping with his illustrious
career, Dr. Nair is a recipient of several prestigious awards. These
include the ‘Padma Shri Award’, ‘National Aeronautical Prize’, ‘Birla Gold
Medal’, ‘Tata Gold Medal’, ‘National Metallurgist Award’, ‘Vasvik Research
Award’, ‘Shri Om Prakash Bhasin Award for Space & Aerospace’, ‘Prime
Minister’s Scope Award and Gold Trophy for Excellence in Public Sector
Management and for ‘Best Chief Executive’, ‘Swadeshi Sasthra Puraskaram’
and ‘Ambedkar Bharat Shree’ Award for Social Service.
I
was privileged to edit his new book ‘Indian Aircraft Industry’ which is a very
brief but comprehensive and up to date book. As he has acknowledged, there are
two books published on Indian aircraft industry, but these are more than two
decades old. The first covered a period 1910-1997 and the second
although published in 2011 covered only HAL as the industry and covered the
period up to 2001. Dr. Krishnadas Nair,
in this current book has brought out the transformation and growth of the
Indian aerospace industry with the participation of private industries
including SMEs, networking with R&D and academic organisations for
developing technology and for innovation. Formation for an
association for these industries by the initiative of HAL, ISRO, DRDO, NAL with
the support of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Civil Aviation and
various other organisations have been highlighted; plus building partnerships
and the entry of many SMEs and Indian private sector corporates into aerospace
and defence sector enhancing India’s capability and capacity, energised by
proactive policies of the Ministry of Defence is highlighted.
Many
unanswered questions, such as why Indian industry has not developed commercial
aircraft and high-tech jet engines have also been answered in the book and the
opportunities and way forward with international collaboration/partnership is
presented.
The book is divided into 11 Chapters.
Chapter–1: Presents the early history of civil and military aviation in
India and the founding of Hindustan Aircraft Ltd established in 1940 and also
the founding of Tata Aircraft Ltd in 1942 plus the growth and contributions of
both these early ventures during and after the Second World War.
Chapter-2 and 3: Covers the building up of the Indian industries capability for
manufacture, repair and overhaul and growth through indigenous design and
development of aircraft as well as through license production and the
continuous augmentation of facilities and technologies for manufacture of
engines, equipment and systems plus also materials and building up
self-reliance.
Chapter-4: Covers
the transformation and growth of the aircraft industry through supply chain
development, breaking away from the
cost-plus profit contract to commercially negotiated price based contracts,
enhancing productivity, quality and efficiency, introduction of advanced
manufacturing technologies including application of Information Technology,
partnership with academia and R&D organisations, diversification and export
promotion, strengthening of the R&D and aligning with concerned
manufacturing disciplines to develop expertise in each specific area.
Chapter-5: Gives a
brief story of forming an association for the Indian Aerospace industries by
primary stakeholder such as HAL, ISRO, DRDO, DGCA, CEMILAC, DGAQA and others to
stimulate participation and growth of private industry corporates and SMEs in
the Indian aerospace projects, and its activities and achievements.
Chapter-6: Briefly gives the origin of the Offset Clause in aerospace and defence
procurement by the initiative of Aeronautical Society of India, HAL and the
Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries (SIATI) and its impact
on growth of Indian aerospace industries capability and capacity.
Chapter-7: Gives a summary of growth of private aerospace industries in India,
consisting of large SMEs, medium and large private sector corporates. Building
capability in the manufacture of precision components, structures, standard
parts, equipment and systems, support equipment such as ground handling, ground
support and a brief mention of MRO and UAV companies and capabilities in the
private sector is all mentioned in detail.
Chapter-8: Deals with R&D in aeronautics and specifically in design and
development of aircraft. It takes note of the early achievements in design
development of aircraft and establishment of National R&D labs in aerospace
by the Government, the decline in the design and development activities due to
increased preference for import and license production of aircraft. The chapter
then narrates in detail the revival of design and development in the last two
to three decades with the project on Advanced Technology Light Helicopter (ALH)
and the Advanced Technology Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and synergising the
national capabilities by networking public sector industries, private sector
industries including SMEs, R&D institutions and academic institutions. With
the success of India establishing and developing world class design capability
in advanced helicopters and for trainer and fighter aircraft, the Indian
industry takes up design and development projects in partnership with National
R&D organisations.
Chapter-9: Commercial Aircraft Development and Production (Lost
opportunities & Way Forward) gives a comprehensive insight into efforts by
both private sector and public sector industries and national labs and the way
forward in making in India civil transport aircraft
Chapter-10: Highlights the role of technology public and private sector partnership
and the networking with academic and R&D institutions and proactive
policies of the government energising the Indian aircraft industry to grow
forward. Some of the successful new projects in the development of new
versions of Dhruv advanced light helicopters for Army, Navy and Air Force are
presented and also increased private sector participation for enhancing the
rate of production to make some of these world quality products not only for
India but also for export.
Chapter-11: The concluding chapter emphases the need for cooperation between PSUs
and private industries and international OEMs for synergetic growth for ‘Make
in India’ for India and for export and provide various plans for working
together for benefit of all partners. The chapter also looks at the
increasing opportunities in civil aircraft development and jet aircraft
development and MROs and in dealing with end of life aircraft, recycling and
disposal.
A great read for sure!
Vikramjit Singh Chopra
Editor, Vayu Aerospace
& Defence Review