More Push To Atmanirbhar Bharat: BHEL To Provide Compact Heat Exchangers for LCA Tejas

The state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd will soon produce small heat exchanger systems for India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ (BHEL). BHEL stated on Monday that it has received an order for compact heat exchanger systems for the 83 ‘Tejas’ Mk 1A aircraft from state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Last year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for 83 LCA to supplement its fighter fleet due to a shortfall of fighter planes.

The order from HAL, according to a BHEL release, calls for the testing, fabrication, and supply of 83 compact heat exchangers for LCA. Heavy Plates and Vessels Plant (HPVP) in Visakhapatnam has been the only supplier of heat exchangers for the LCA Tejas to HAL since 1996.

Detailed information on the Compact Heat Exchanger
BHEL-HPVP and Bangalore’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) collaborated on this. They designed 13 distinct types of small heat exchangers for the LCA MK-1 program’s Environmental Control System (ECS) and Secondary Power System (SPS).

BHEL is also collaborating with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the development of an Air Cycle Machine-based Liquid Cooling System (LCS) for Aircraft POD applications. This system is designed to work with the LCA Mk2.

HPVP already has specialised complicated production and inspection facilities for manufacturing state-of-the-art Compact Heat Exchangers for various types of aircraft made by HAL.

The facilities are also being upgraded to meet International Aero Standards, according to the corporate statement (AS9100). This means that BHEL, a state-owned company, will be able to meet HAL’s needs for the LCA, Su-30, AMCA, and ALH programmes.

The company has been a major provider of critical equipment and services to India’s Aerospace and Defense Sector for the past three decades.

More information on the Tejas Mk 1A (Mark 1A)
Last year, Financial Express Online revealed that the 83 Tejas Mk 1A aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force have the same airframe and engine as the Mark 1.

The Mk 1A will also be equipped with an AESA radar that was purchased off the shelf in Israel. There’s also an Electronic Warfare package, which includes some original content.

It will be equipped with a cutting-edge ‘fly by wire’ (FBW) system, as well as a combination of indigenous and imported armaments. The majority of the Mk 1A enhancements were created in-house. This includes FBW as well.

The Mk 1A can also shoot precision guided munitions, bombs, and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, among other things.