Context:
The Saras Mk2, an upgraded version of India’s indigenously developed civilian aircraft, is expected to conduct its first test flight by December 2027, according to Abhay Pashilkar, Director of CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL). The aircraft aims to fill critical gaps in regional connectivity and could potentially be procured by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Key Features and Objectives
- Capacity: 19-seater aircraft, ideal for short-haul passenger transport.
- Use Cases:
- Ferrying passengers from towns lacking large airports
- Operations as chartered planes
- Deployment as air ambulances
- Military Interest: IAF has shown interest in procuring at least 15 units, pending successful trials.
Development Timeline and Challenges
- Origin: Based on the earlier 14-seater Saras prototype, which first flew in 2004.
- Setback: Progress halted after a 2009 crash during a test flight that killed three IAF personnel.
- Revival: Project was revived in 2016 with significant design upgrades:
- Redesigned wings
- Repositioned engines
- Manufacturing Partners:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to be involved
- Metallic parts outsourced
- Fuselage requires large-scale vendors
- Avionics: Basic systems from Genesis; additional systems run on in-house NAL-developed computers
- In-House Systems:
- Brake management
- Environmental controls
