Bengaluru: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) here today. She also laid the foundation stone for the Zonal Institute of Virology (South Zone) virtually on the occasion.
The facility will cater to the entire Rocket Engine Manufacturing under one roof for ISRO and will boost self-reliance in the manufacturing of Hi-thrust Rocket engines.
The facility is set up over an area of 4500 square metres housing over 70 hi-tech equipment and testing facilities for manufacturing Cryogenic (CE20) and Semi-cryogenic (SE2000) Engines of Indian Space Launch Vehicles.
In 2013, an MOU was signed with ISRO for establishing the facility for manufacturing Cryogenic Engine modules at HAL, Aerospace Division. The MOU for the Cryogenic Engine facility was subsequently amended in the year 2016 for the setting up of the Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF) with an investment of Rs. 208 crores.
Cryogenic engines are the most widely used engines the world over in launch vehicles. Due to the complex nature of the cryogenic engine, to date, only a few countries the USA, France, Japan, China and Russia have mastered the cryogenic technology. On January 5, 2014, India successfully flew GSLV-D5 with a cryogenic engine (made by ISRO through private industries) and became the sixth country in developing cryogenic engines. Space exploration in the future is mostly dependent upon cryogenic technology.
HAL Aerospace Division manufactures liquid propellant tanks and launch vehicle structures of PSLV, GSLV MK-II, GSLV Mk-III and also stage integration for GSLV Mk-II. The Aerospace Division entering into the manufacture of Cryogenic Engines is a major step in technology up-gradation cum modernization.
Addressing the gathering, the President said that the inauguration of the Facility was a historic moment not only for HAL and ISRO but also for the whole country to have a state-of-the-art facility to manufacture Cryogenic and Semi-cryogenic Engines. She said that HAL has contributed immensely to India’s self-reliance in defence.
She noted that the sincere efforts and dedication of ISRO made India emerge as the sixth country in the world to have such manufacturing capabilities.
The President said that HAL and ISRO together contribute to strategic defence and development. Both organizations have played a major role in the development of various equipment and programmes which have reinforced the security and development of our country. “HAL with its high-end facility of manufacturing defence-related equipment has proved to be an invaluable asset for our country,” she said.
Murmu said that the glorious past of HAL and ISRO provides an assurance that these organisations will continue to play a significant and positive role in the future.
The President also went around the HAL facility. She virtually laid the foundation stone for the Zonal Institute of Virology (South Zone) of NIV, Bengaluru. The Governor of Karnataka Thaawarchand Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai and others were present on the occasion.
Referring to Bengaluru as Space City, Bommai said the state contributed most of the space and defence-related manufacturing activities in the country and Karnataka will continue to support the development of science and technology projects in the state to realise the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
– global bihari bureau
