MQ-9B | Photo: General Atomics
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and pioneering U.S. military UAV manufacturer General Atomics have announced at Aero India 2023 that HAL’s Engine Division in Bengaluru will support the turbo-prop engines of the MQ-9B Guardian High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).
HAL has had extensive experience in supporting the Honeywell TPE 331 family of engines, a variant of which powers the MQ-9B. An HAL statement explained that while the turbo-prop engine fitted onboard the MQ-9B HALE RPAS looks similar to other commercial engines in its category, it is unique in its configuration and operation, requiring special training and equipment to maintain, repair and overhaul.
HAL’s Chairman and Managing Director, C.B. Ananthakrishnan said in the statement, “HAL has been manufacturing and providing MRO support for TPE 331-5 engines for the last 40 years. We are also establishing facilities for manufacturing TPE 331-12B engines for the HTT-40 project. The engine used on the MQ-9B RPAS belongs to the same family of engines, with an upgraded configuration to adapt to the RPAS technology. I am glad that HAL Engine Division, Bangalore would be providing MRO support to the engine for MQ-9B RPAS, one of the most sophisticated equipment in the world.”
An Expression of Interest to this effect was exchanged between Dr. Vivek Lall, Chief Executive, General Atomics Global Corporation and B. Krishna Kumar, Executive Director (Engines & IMGT) in the presence of Mihir Kanti Mishra, CEO (Bangalore Complex).
Dr. Vivek Lall, Chief Executive, General Atomics Global Corporation was quoted as saying, “GA-ASI is proud to collaborate with HAL on this prestigious project,” adding, “HAL is the foremost Indian public sector Aerospace and Defence agency, and its vast experience in the domain of aero-engine technology makes it our natural partner in India.”
General Atomics and HAL plan to formulate a comprehensive engine MRO program for upcoming HALE RPAS projects, according to the statement.
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