BENGALURU: Defence PSU HAL on Wednesday added two new facilities — a state-of-the-art propellant tank production and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining facilities — which are set to provide a boost to Isro’s production capabilities, particularly for the LVM-3 launch vehicle, India’s most powerful rocket.
With the current capacity allowing for only two LVM-3 launches annually, the new facilities will enable HAL to manufacture critical components to support six LVM-3 launches per year, meeting ISRO’s growing requirements, the PSU said.
The facilities at the PSU’s Aerospace Division were inaugurated by Isro chairman S Somanath and HAL CMD CB Ananthakrishnan. The propellant tank production facility will specialise in manufacturing high-performance fuel and oxidizer tanks, critical components for the LVM3 launch vehicle, measuring 4m in diameter and up to 15m in length.
The CNC machining facility houses advanced CNC machines for high-precision fabrication of 4.5m class rings and propellant tank domes for LVM-3.
Somanath was quoted as having said: “HAL has enormous capacities and this potential should be explored in the larger interest of both the organisations. HAL will play a larger role in Isro’s future missions hence should focus on emerging technologies, designing challenges and take up end-to-end tasks to ease pressure on Isro.”
Ananthakrishnan highlighted that the collaboration with Isro will accelerate human spaceflight missions and the development of Next-Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV), while affirming HAL’s commitment to invest further in unlocking the full potential of space programmes. “The day is not far off when space becomes an important vertical for HAL,” he added.
HAL said in a statement: “…Also, the first Gaganyaan service module and LVM3 ½ U Isogrid Version hardware were symbolically handed over to Isro.”