India creates unified flight control system integration facility

The DRDO has created a new Flight Control Systems centre to integrate the development and certification of avionics and flight systems. The centre will conduct simulation training for pilots. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

India is centralising the integration and development of its flight control systems to help quicken the pace of development of avionics and hardware for a new range of unmanned and manned military aircraft.

Speaking to Janes , the chairperson of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr G Satheesh Reddy, said that the development of avionics and hardware is scattered across various manufacturers and research centres in India. These will be unified at the new Flight Control System (FCS) integration facility.

The seven-story technical facility, with a plinth area of 39,600 m ² , is located at DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bangalore.

“From the development of avionics, software, and simulation training to the pilots of combat aircraft, everything will be taken up at this facility,” Dr Satheesh said.

DRDO officials added that the facility will develop and certify flight control systems for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark II and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

According to Dr Asha Garg, programme director (manned aircraft) ADE and director of the integration facility, various development teams could start moving into the facility in the next few weeks.

“We can move into the building right away. The top floor will house software development. Other floors have labs to develop hardware such as computers, sensors, and actuators. Standalone development starts first, followed by systems integration,” she said.

ADE said that two entire aircraft-like structures will be placed in two separate hangars on the ground floor for full-systems integration of systems and hardware on unmanned and manned platforms.