“Safeguarding Indian skies for more than 60 years”
M88 on the Rafale
Safran is an internationally active, hightechnology group and tier-1 supplier of systems and equipment in the Aerospace and Defence markets. In India, Safran is committed to being a full-fledged technology partner in development of the Indian aerospace and defence industry. The company has had a time-honoured association with the Indian Army, since the 1950s. “By providing engines and/or equipment for more than 70 percent of the aircraft and helicopters flying in India, Safran is proud to be safeguarding Indian skies for more than 60 years.” Safran Electronics & Defense offers aerospace and land solutions and is the leading supplier of inertial navigation systems for Indian combat aircraft. Sigma 95N navigation systems equip the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Tejas LCA, MiG-27, MiG-29, Jaguar and Hawk combat aircraft. Safran develops and supplies the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) of the Dhruv helicopter, comprising APIRS Attitude and Heading Reference Systems, Autopilot Computers and actuators, all of which are manufactured and maintained in India.
Safran Electronics & Defense’s AFCS is also fitted on the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and has been selected for the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) of HAL. More than 500 combat aircraft deployed by the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy are equipped with the Inertial Navigation Systems.
Safran’s Ardiden1U helicopter engine
The Sigma 30 artillery navigation and pointing systems and CM3 integrated optronics sights are used on various artillery and air defence systems, being key assets for the accuracy and operational flexibility of the systems. The Arjun main battle tanks are equipped with Savan 15 gunner sights. Safran Electronics & Defense has teamed up with the major contenders in the FICV project to offer innovative solutions based on its HRG (Hemispheric Resonating Gyro) breakthrough technology for navigation and based on its latest generation PASEO multi-function sight for observation and fire control systems.
HAL and Safran The relationship between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines goes back to 1962 and an agreement is in place to produce, in India, the Artouste IIIB turbine installed in Indian versions of the Alouette III (known as Chetak) and Lama (Cheetah); more than 600 of these engines have been produced in India. “Since then, this partnership has gone from strength to strength and Safran has been selected to power all subsequent HAL-developed rotorcraft.”
“For Safran, Make-in-India has been a reality for decades”: Stephane Lauret, CEO, Safran India
Safran Helicopter Engines is the leading supplier of turbine engines for helicopters deployed by the Indian Armed Forces. A key element of the partnership is the Shakti / Ardiden 1H1. Certified in 2009, the 1,400 shp engine was co-developed by Safran and HAL and is now built in Bangalore, under the Shakti designation, mainly with Indian-made components. This engine was first selected to power HAL’s Dhruv, now in service, and powers the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) which is in the final stages of qualification. As of early 2018, more than 350 Shakti engines have been produced.
Most recently the Ardiden 1U, a derivative of the Ardiden 1H1, specifically designed to power single-engine rotorcraft, was selected to power the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), a new and unique three-ton, single-engine, multipurpose rotorcraft. This engine has a compact architecture featuring a gas generator made up of two centrifugal compressor stages, coupled to a single-stage high-pressure turbine and a two-stage power turbine. The first technical flight of the Ardiden 1U inthe LUH took place in September 2016, at Bangalore and met all its performance targets.
The Sigma 95N navigation system
Safran’s PASEO multi-function sight
Inaugurated in October 2016 in Goa by India’s then Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt. Limited (HE-MRO) is a Joint Venture of Safran and HAL, dedicated to supporting helicopter engines operated by national and international operators, and primarily the Indian Air Force and Indian Army. It will be operational by early 2020, and will provide maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) services for both TM333 and Shakti engines installed on HAL-built helicopters.
Another milestone in the Safran Helicopter Engines roadmap in India will be set by the Russian Ka-226T; Russia and India reached an agreement to manufacture the Ka-226Ts in India. “The Ka-226T is powered by our Arrius 2G1, an engine certified in 2015 and currently produced at our headquarters in France. Safran is looking at producing this engine in India through a partnership built around the ‘Make in India’ initiative and HE-MRO joint venture”, state company officials.
Courtesy: Safran