In a significant achievement for India’s self-reliance in defence, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the first flight test of the indigenous Power Take Off (PTO) Shaft on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) Limited Series Production (LSP)-3 aircraft in Bengaluru. The PTO Shaft is a crucial component of the aircraft and has been designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai of DRDO. The shaft will support future fighter aircraft requirements and their variants while offering competitive cost and reduced availability time.
According to a statement from the Defence Ministry, the DRDO has achieved a greater technological feat by realizing complex high-speed rotor technology, which has only been achieved by a few countries. The PTO shaft is designed with a unique patented ‘Frequency Spanning Technique’ that allows it to negotiate different operating engine speeds. The lightweight, high-speed, lubrication-free PTO shaft can transmit higher power between the aircraft engine gear box and Aircraft Mounted Accessory Gear Box while accommodating the misalignments that arise in the drive line.
The successful test was a result of the collaboration of the Aeronautical Development Agency, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and CVRDE. The PTO shaft technology has already been transferred to Godrej & Boyce, Mumbai, and Lakshmi Technology and Engineering, Coimbatore.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, PSUs, and the Industry, stating that the successful realization of the PTO shaft is another significant milestone towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’ The Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, Dr Samir V Kamat, said that the success showcased the country’s research capability and would actively support the test aircraft programmes.
The development of indigenous defence technologies has been a key focus of the Indian government’s defence policies, as it seeks to reduce dependence on foreign imports and achieve self-reliance in the sector. The successful flight test of the PTO shaft is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
The LCA Tejas is a single-engine, lightweight, high-agility supersonic fighter aircraft designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. The LCA program is a crucial part of India’s defence modernisation plans, and the successful development of indigenous components such as the PTO shaft will help in the production of advanced and high-performance fighter aircraft. The LCA Tejas has already been inducted into the Indian Air Force, and the Navy is currently evaluating the aircraft for its carrier operations.
The successful flight test of the indigenous PTO shaft is a testament to the country’s technological capabilities and is a step forward in its pursuit of self-reliance in defence. The DRDO’s achievement is a significant milestone towards the development of advanced and state-of-the-art fighter aircraft in India.
