**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the indigenous Hansa-3 NG pilot trainer aircraft and reviewed plans for a 19-seater aircraft at CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru. The event highlighted India's progress in aerospace and aviation, with initiatives like the SARAS Mk-2 aircraft, the Iron Bird facility, High Altitude Platforms (HAPs), and the NAviMet system, as part of a national effort to become a global aviation hub by 2035 and a fully developed nation by 2047. The achievements showcased support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for democratized air travel.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Hansa-3 NG Trainer Aircraft:**
* Launched production of the indigenous Hansa-3(NG) trainer aircraft to meet PPL and CPL training demand.
* Industry partner M/s Pioneer Clean Amps is setting up a ₹150 crore facility in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, to produce up to 100 aircraft annually.
* India will require nearly 30,000 pilots in the next 15-20 years, and Hansa-3(NG) will reduce dependence on foreign trainer aircraft.
* **SARAS Mk-2 Aircraft:**
* CSIR-NAL's ongoing development of the 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft SARAS Mk-2 for civilian and military operations.
* SARAS Mk-2 will bolster regional connectivity and address India's indigenous short-haul passenger aircraft requirement.
* Inaugurated the Iron Bird Facility for SARAS Mk-2 to validate major aircraft subsystems, reduce flight-testing risks, and accelerate development timelines.
* **High Altitude Platforms (HAPs):**
* Inaugurated a manufacturing facility for HAPs, aiming for full-scale flight to 20 km by 2027.
* HAPs offer a cost-effective alternative to satellites for surveillance, telecommunication, and environmental monitoring.
* **NAviMet System:**
* Inaugurated the NAviMet system at HAL Airport.
* NAviMet provides real-time visibility and weather parameters essential for safe landing and take-off.
* **Collaboration for Loitering Munition UAV:**
* Formalized CSIR-NAL's collaboration with M/s Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd. for the development of the indigenous 150-kg class Loitering Munition UAV.
* The UAV will offer a 900 km range, 6–9 hours endurance, and advanced capabilities.
**Impact Analysis**
**CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)**
* **Impact:** CSIR-NAL is central to these initiatives, driving the development of indigenous aerospace technologies and collaborating with industry partners. It is expected to expand its outreach to investors, young entrepreneurs, and the public to ensure India's scientific achievements are visible and inspiring.
* **Action Required:** CSIR-NAL must continue to develop indigenous aircraft technologies and maintain its collaborative relationships with the government and private industry to meet the milestones towards becoming a global aviation hub.
**Indian Aviation Industry & Trainees**
* **Impact:** The launch of the Hansa-3 NG will support the training of pilots for domestic use. The development of indigenous technologies will reduce the country's dependence on foreign training platforms. The development of regional aircraft, such as SARAS Mk-2, will increase regional air connectivity and boost economic activity.
* **Action Required:** Airlines, training institutions, and associated infrastructure must prepare for growth in domestic aviation capacity to meet the growing demand for air travel and aviation professionals.
**Ministry of Defence**
* **Impact:** Developments like the HAPs and the indigenous Loitering Munition UAV will enhance India's defence capabilities and promote self-reliance.
* **Action Required:** The Ministry of Defence must continue to support indigenous technology development, participate in collaborative projects with the CSIR-NAL, and incorporate indigenous technologies into the country's defence capabilities.
**M/s Pioneer Clean Amps, M/s Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd, HAL**
* **Impact:** These industry partners are key to producing the Hansa-3 NG aircraft and the Loitering Munition UAV.
* **Action Required:** These partners are required to establish production facilities, complete technology development and meet production timelines.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN scheme: A government scheme aimed at democratizing air travel and enhancing regional connectivity in India.
CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL): A research and development organization focusing on aerospace technologies, playing a key role in the development of indigenous aircraft and related systems.
SARAS Mk-2: A 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft designed by CSIR-NAL for both civilian and military operations, intended to bolster regional connectivity.
Hansa-3(NG): India's first all-composite airframe two-seater trainer aircraft designed to meet the demand for pilot training.
Bengaluru: The location where Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the first indigenous Pilot trainer Aircraft 'Hansa-3 NG', and reviewed plan for 19-seater Aircraft
Ministry of Science & Technology
At Bengaluru, Dr Jitendra Singh launches first
indigenous Pilot trainer Aircraft 'Hansa-3 NG",
reviews plan for 19-seater Aircraft
India’s Indigenous Aircraft Ecosystem Entering a New Era of
Growth and Self-Reliance: Dr. Jitendra Singh at CSIR– NAL in
Bengaluru
India Eyes Top 3 Global Aviation Ranking; Dr. Jitendra Singh
Says Indigenous Aircraft Will Power Next Phase of Growth
Minister Launches SARAS Mk-2 Iron Bird Facility, Boosting
India’s Short-Haul Regional Connectivity Programme
CSIR-NAL’s 19-Seater SARAS Mk-2 to Power UDAN
Expansion and Reduce Dependence on Imported Aircraft
Dr. Jitendra Singh Flags NAviMet System at HAL, Says India’s
Indigenous Weather Tech Now Guards Skies Nationwide
प्रव तथ: 29 NOV 2025 6:11PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh today said
that India is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in its aerospace and aviation ecosystem, powered
by indigenous technologies, industry partnerships, and a whole-of-government approach. Speaking at
CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru, the Minister said that the milestones
achieved today reflect Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that “Hawai chappal wala bhi Hawai jahaj
mein chalega,” and mark India’s march towards becoming a global aviation hub and a self-reliant
aerospace manufacturing nation.
The Minister launched the production version of the indigenous Hansa-3(NG) trainer aircraft, India’s first
all-composite airframe two-seater aircraft designed to meet the expanding demand for PPL and CPL
training. He recalled the Transfer of Technology ceremony held in Delhi earlier this year and expressed
satisfaction that within just a few months, the industry partner M/s Pioneer Clean Amps has not only
commenced manufacturing preparations but is setting up a ₹150 crore facility at Kuppam, Andhra
Pradesh, to produce up to 100 aircraft annually.Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India will require nearly 30,000 pilots in the next 15–20 years, and Hansa-
3(NG) represents a critical step towards fulfilling this domestic requirement through fully indigenous
technology, reducing dependence on foreign trainer aircraft, and creating new avenues of livelihood and
entrepreneurship in aviation.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that India is on track to be among the top three nations in domestic and
international passenger traffic, supported by a strong middle-class population and a rapidly growing
economy. He said the UDAN scheme launched under the Prime Minister’s leadership has democratised air
travel and created an ecosystem where regional connectivity and cost-effective operations are expanding
at a record pace. To meet this surge, the Minister highlighted CSIR-NAL’s ongoing development of the
19-seater Light Transport Aircraft SARAS Mk-2, designed for both civilian and military operations. With
a pressurised cabin, digital avionics, glass cockpit, autopilot, command-by-wire flight controls, and
significant weight and drag reduction, the aircraft will bolster regional connectivity and address India’s
indigenous short-haul passenger aircraft requirement.
The Minister said that SARAS Mk-2 is only the beginning, as India must now look ahead to conceiving
and building larger aircraft-including the 19-seater class, in the long run to meet its growing aviation
needs.
During the visit, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Iron Bird Facility for SARAS Mk-2, describing it as a
crucial platform for full-system integration, ground testing, and validation of major aircraft subsystems.
He noted that such facilities significantly reduce flight-testing risks and accelerate development timelines,
enabling engineers to identify and resolve design and software issues early. The Minister emphasised that
CSIR-NAL’s advanced R&D ecosystem, working simultaneously with civil aviation, defence services,
DRDO and private industry, exemplifies the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach
repeatedly advocated by the Prime Minister.
The Minister also inaugurated a dedicated manufacturing facility for High Altitude Platforms (HAPs),
India’s initiative to join the select league of nations developing solar-powered unmanned aircraft capable
of flying above 20 km altitude for long-endurance missions. With only a few global players such as the
US, UK, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand and Japan investing in similar technologies, India’s entry
into this domain demonstrates its growing scientific capabilities. CSIR-NAL’s subscale vehicle has
already achieved 7.5 km altitude and over 10 hours endurance, and the first full-scale flight to 20 km is
targeted for 2027. The Minister said that HAPs offer a cost-effective alternative to satellites for
surveillance, telecommunication, and environmental monitoring, opening a new frontier for India’s
aerospace sector.
Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the NAviMet system at HAL Airport, highlighting CSIR-NAL’s long-
standing contribution to aviation safety through DRISHTI, AWOS and NAviMet systems deployed across
civil and defence airfields. With over 175 systems already operational, NAviMet provides real-time
visibility and weather parameters essential for safe landing and take-off, reflecting another successful
example of Indigenous Technology in public–private collaboration.
In a significant move towards strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, the Minister
witnessed the formalisation of CSIR-NAL’s collaboration with M/s Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd. for
the development of the indigenous 150-kg class Loitering Munition UAV. Powered by NAL’s certified
Wankel engine, the UAV will offer a 900 km range, 6–9 hours endurance, a 5 km service ceiling and
advanced capabilities such as GPS-denied navigation, low radar cross-section, and AI-enabled target
identification. The Minister said that this PPP model epitomises the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, ensuring
that India develops critical defence technologies within the country while building industrial capacity for
commercial-scale production.Addressing the gathering, the minister said that CSIR-NAL has shown how government laboratories and
private industry can jointly drive national growth by making indigenous products viable, competitive, and
globally relevant. He encouraged the institution to expand its outreach to investors, young entrepreneurs,
and the public through modern communication tools, ensuring that India’s scientific achievements are
visible and inspiring to the next generation.
Dr. Jitendra Singh concluded by stating that the achievements showcased today—from trainer aircraft to
regional passenger aircraft, high-altitude platforms, unmanned defence systems, and aviation meteorology,
are not isolated developments, but part of a transformative national effort to make India a global aviation
hub by 2035 and a fully developed nation by 2047. He said that institutions like CSIR-NAL will play a
defining role in shaping India’s aerospace future, and expressed confidence that the next phase of growth
will see even larger milestones and deeper industry involvement.*****
NKR/AK
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