Bangalore, Oct 22: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is undertaking the avionics upgradation of 20 deep penetration Jaguar fighters and 17 Jaguar trainers at a total cost of Rs 1,500 crore, HAL chairman N R Mohanty said today. The first Jaguar prototype with the Navigation and Weapon Attack Sub Systems (NAWASs) upgradation, taken up indigenously by HAL and Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), was flown successfully on September 29, Mohanty told reporters here.
The NAWASs upgradation was taken up indigenously after a British avionics firm charged a hefty Rs 14 crore as charges for developing the mission computer and halted the project abruptly for initial delays by HAL.
"They asked us to pay the money in advance before taking the project further. I approached dare, who took it up and completed to the satisfaction of the aircraft system and test establishment of the IAF," Mohanty said.
Besides the 20 Jaguar fighters, an additional 17 trainers would be upgraded with the new avionics and the test flight of the upgraded NAWASs trainer prototype would be done in 15 days, he said.
HAL Bangalore complex managing director A K Saxena said a total flight of about 40 hours was required for certification of the aircraft.
Mohanty said HAL, DRDO and IAF jointly were undertaking upgradation of avionics in the Mig-27 fighters and the first upgraded prototype would be flown next year. Bureau Report