India's National Civil Aircraft nears pull-back

India's ambitious national civil aircraft (NCAD) is making steady strides forward. Top sources say that the government will shortly provide sanction for a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to carry the project forward on a corporate basis. As reported by SP's in February this year, a team from HAL and NAL had made a presentation to the Planning Commission, after which it had been decided that HAL would be lead integrator on the programme, along with the National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL).

The modalities of a consortium or joint venture will be confirmed prior to the creation of the SPV. Significantly, while it is understood that the aircraft platform will be largely indigenous, the turbofan engines and certain environmental systems may be outsources to foreign vendors who will be signed up as partners. According to HAL Chairman R.K. Tyagi, the NCAD programme envisages an investment of Rs 7,500 crore— Rs 4,500 crore in design and Rs 3,000 crore for prototype production. The programme intends to field a prototype in the next 6-7 years.