CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru has unveiled the production version of the indigenous Hansa-3 NG pilot-training aircraft and reviewed progress on the 19-seater SARAS Mk-2 light transport aircraft. The developments form part of a broader set of projects aimed at expanding domestic aircraft manufacturing capacity and strengthening India's civil and defence aviation ecosystem.
The two-seater Hansa-3 NG has been designed as an all-composite airframe trainer to meet growing demand for private pilot licence and commercial pilot licence training. Manufacturing preparations have begun with industry partner Pioneer Clean Amps, which is setting up an INR 1.5 billion facility at Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, to produce up to 100 aircraft annually. "Hansa-3 NG represents an important step towards building the pilot-training ecosystem with indigenous technology," said Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology..
India is projected to require nearly 30,000 pilots over the next 15 to 20 years, and the aircraft is intended to strengthen domestic training capacity and reduce dependence on imported platforms. The expansion in air passenger traffic has also increased the need for regional connectivity aircraft, with CSIR-NAL continuing development of the SARAS Mk-2. The 19-seater platform incorporates a pressurised cabin, digital avionics, a glass cockpit, autopilot systems and command-by-wire flight controls.
An Iron Bird Facility has been commissioned to support the SARAS Mk-2 programme through full-system integration, ground testing and validation of major subsystems. The facility enables engineers to evaluate aerodynamic, mechanical and software performance before flight testing, helping to lower development risk and shorten test schedules.
A dedicated manufacturing facility for solar-powered High Altitude Platforms has also been opened. These unmanned aircraft are designed to operate above 20 km altitude for long-endurance missions. CSIR-NAL's subscale vehicle has achieved a 7.5 km altitude and more than 10 hours of endurance, with a full-scale flight to 20 km targeted for 2027. The platforms are being developed for surveillance, telecommunication and environmental monitoring roles.
At Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Airport, the NAviMet aviation weather monitoring system was inaugurated to provide real-time visibility and meteorological data for landing and take-off operations. More than 175 systems from the same family are deployed across civil and defence airfields.
CSIR-NAL has also formalised collaboration with Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd. for a 150-kilogram-class loitering munition unmanned aircraft system powered by a certified Wankel engine. The platform is planned with a 900 km range, endurance of six to nine hours, a 5 km service ceiling and navigation capability in GPS-denied environments.
CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories is a government research institution focused on aerospace technologies, civil and defence aviation systems, unmanned platforms and aircraft prototypes for domestic and export applications.