Indigenous MFDs for Indian Air Force SU-30 MKI’s
Samtel Display Systems manufacturer of avionic equipments and systems, today announced that the indigenous Multi Functional Displays (MFD), jointly developed with Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) (DRDO) and manufactured by them have got clearance for flight testing from RCMA (Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness), and was subsequently followed by flight trials.
Prior to flying, extensive ground tests were undertaken at Su-30 integration rig. The tests were conducted during both daylight hours and in the night to evaluate the display characteristics of the MFD under varying light conditions. Four test sorties were undertaken at an altitude of approx. 40,000 ft with the indigenous MFD for its evaluation, and no failure of MFD’s was observed. Samtel will implement minor improvements suggested by the flight crew.
With this achievement, Samtel becomes the first Indian company to indigenise multi functional displays for the Indian Defence forces. The flight trials were conducted on the Su-30 aircrafts at Barreilly.
Samtel Display Systems has a JV with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to produce indigenous next-generation MFDs, HUDs (Head Up Displays) and HMD (Helmet Mounted Displays) for HAL’s star programs like IJT, LCA and SU-30 MKI. Along with this, Samtel has recently entered a JV with Thales to work towards the local development, production, sale and maintenance of Helmets Mounted Sight & Display (HMSD) and other Avionics Systems destined for the Indian market.
Commenting on this landmark achievement, Samtel Group’s CMD Mr. Satish Kaura said, “The flight testing of these indigenous MFDs underscores Samtel’s commitment to produce high quality, high performance avionics equipment and systems for our customers both in the Indian and international arena. It reinforces our endeavors to develop and provide indigenous technology developed to meet Export market and Defence Offset requirements by the overseas clients.”
The Multi-Functional display (MFD) is a device that puts all aircraft-systems monitoring and flight planning functions at the pilot’s fingertips. The MFD paints a composite view of the aircraft’s environment, providing the pilot with all necessary information to make safe decisions during every phase of flight. Engine performance and situational data such as location, terrain, traffic, weather and airport information are all digitally depicted and can be quickly interpreted at a glance on the large-format display.
SDS is a part of the Samtel Group, India’s largest integrated manufacturer of a wide range of displays for television, avionics, industrial, medical and professional applications, TV glass, components for displays, machinery and engineering services. The group employs 6000 people in nine world-class factories and has an annual turnover of Rs 12 billion (USD 300M).
Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) initially started as a Project Laboratory - Advanced Systems Integration and Evaluation Organisation (ASIEO), which was established in 1986 at Bangalore to pursue the goal of enhancing the operational capabilities of Indian Air Force through modern technologies. Over the last decade, DARE has made rapid progress in the areas of Airborne Electronic Warfare, Airborne Processors and Testing & Evaluation of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems. It has implemented concepts in concurrent engineering in partnership with the Industry in order to achieve shorter design to induction time frames and seamless transfer of technology. DARE has two major wings – the Electronic Warfare (EW) wing and the Mission Avionics Wing (MAW).
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