Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Saturday launched the production version of India’s indigenous Hansa-3 NG pilot trainer aircraft at CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru. He also reviewed ongoing work on the 19-seater SARAS Mk-2 aircraft and inaugurated multiple aerospace facilities aimed at strengthening India’s civil and defence aviation ecosystem.
The Hansa-3 NG, India’s first all-composite two-seat trainer, has been designed to meet rising demand for pilot training as India is projected to need nearly 30,000 pilots over the next two decades. Industry partner Pioneer Clean Amps is setting up a ₹150-crore manufacturing facility in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity to produce up to 100 aircraft annually.
Singh said the aircraft will help reduce dependence on imported trainers and support domestic aviation training institutions at a time when India is set to become one of the world’s top three aviation markets.
At CSIR-NAL, the Minister also reviewed progress on the SARAS Mk-2, a 19-seater light transport aircraft under development for civilian and military use. The aircraft is expected to support regional air connectivity under the UDAN scheme and reduce India’s reliance on foreign-made small passenger aircraft. Key features include a pressurised cabin, digital avionics, a glass cockpit and weight-reduction optimisations.
To support testing of SARAS Mk-2, Singh inaugurated the Iron Bird facility, a full-system integration and ground-testing platform aimed at reducing flight-test risks and shortening development timelines.
In addition, the Minister inaugurated a manufacturing facility for High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) – solar-powered unmanned aircraft capable of flying above 20 km. The first full-scale HAP flight is planned for 2027, following successful tests of a sub-scale model that reached 7.5 km altitude and over 10 hours endurance. HAPs are expected to serve surveillance, communication and environmental monitoring roles.
Singh also launched the NAviMet aviation weather system at HAL Airport. Over 175 DRISHTI, AWOS and NAviMet systems developed by CSIR-NAL are currently operational at civil and defence airfields.
During the visit, CSIR-NAL formalised a partnership with Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd. to develop a 150-kg class loitering munition UAV powered by an indigenous Wankel engine. The UAV will have a range of up to 900 km, endurance of 6–9 hours, low radar detectability, and AI-assisted target identification.
Singh said the developments reflect the government’s focus on strengthening indigenous aircraft manufacturing and reducing dependence on foreign platforms. He added that advancements in trainer aircraft, regional transport aircraft, high-altitude platforms and defence unmanned systems will support India’s goal of becoming a major aviation hub by 2035 and a developed nation by 2047.
