Recognizing Indian Air Force Day
Pratt & Whitney Canada is proud to recognize the 89th anniversary of Air Force Day, celebrated every October 8 by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the fourth largest in the world. Pratt & Whitney has powered critical, modern platforms for the IAF like the C-17s and PC7s, as well as indigenously-developed aircraft like the NAL-SARAS and the Netra AEW&CS.
Facing to the future, our engines support the IAF’s current modernization efforts through several key platforms:
The C295’s twin PW127G engines feature low-fuel burn during cruise and enable exceptional range and endurance for time-critical missions. The PW127G is part of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW100/PW150 engine family which powers a variety of aircraft platforms flying diverse missions – including regional commercial airlines, firefighting, aerial surveillance, cargo transport, humanitarian work and civil defense. Pratt & Whitney has been providing these engines to Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) since the C295 took its first flight in 1998 and since then we have shipped more than 400 PW127G engines to ADS.
Pratt & Whitney has engines embedded in crucial indigenous aircraft programs in India. We have been an integral propulsion partner for the NAL-SARAS MKI with our PT6A turboprop engine. Pratt & Whitney Canada and the National Aeronautical Laboratory (NAL) have been working together for more than a decade on the development of NAL’s multirole light transport aircraft, SARAS. With over 600 engines in operation in India supporting more than 50 operators, the PT6A has a strong support network in place and brings the advantage of cost-effectiveness and reliability to the aircraft it powers.
Furthermore, we welcome the Indian government’s focus on streamlining MRO policy in order to make India a global MRO hub. With continued infusion of innovation and investment over next few years, the MRO sector in the country could benefit both India and the region. And when it comes to manufacturing and customer service, Pratt & Whitney’s state-of-the art India Customer Training Centre (CTC) in Hyderabad is equipped with actual aircraft engines (GTF and V2500), specialized and general-purpose tooling, as well as advanced audio-visual teaching aids including “virtual reality” based demonstration systems. The world-class India CTC has imparted 11,500 student days of training to over 39 operators representing over 27 nationalities since its launch and has the capabilities to train IAF’s frontline engineers on Pratt & Whitney engines. Aligned to government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of self-reliance, we have the required facilities and trained instructors to support this mission, in-country.
As India advances its modernization and self-reliance in aerospace and defense, Pratt & Whitney is committed to meaningful collaboration, which has spanned the last seven decades. The IAF’s restored ‘Parshuram’ Douglas DC-3 aircraft, which was a critical asset during the 1947 war, and enthralled the audience with its flying display at Aero India 2021, was originally powered by Pratt & Whitney engines!
We look forward to continuing this strong relationship with the IAF as its air warriors commemorate this Air Force Day and reaffirm their resolve.
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