India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has awarded a contract to Honeywell to manufacture and deliver 88 TPE331-12B Turboprop engines/kits. The engines/kits will power HAL’s Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) aircraft. The contract is estimated to exceed $100m and will also include maintenance and support services. The latest signing marks a significant milestone in the execution of HAL’s existing contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide 70 HTT-40 aircraft. The company received a request for proposal (RFP) from the IAF in February last year. The deal was signed between Honeywell Defense & Space OE Sales senior director Eric Walters and HAL executive director (E & IMGT) B Krishna Kumar, in presence of HAL chairman and managing director (CMD) R Madhavan.
Walters said: “The TPE331-12 family of engines has proven itself in operations all over the world, and we have committed to support and deliver engines as well as kits within stipulated schedule to meet requirements of IAF. Honeywell is committed to supporting the export of HTT-40 aircraft in coming years along with other engine programmes which are currently on radar.
Madhavan said: “HAL has successfully developed HTT-40 to address basic training requirements of IAF. There is potential requirement of 70 aircraft. The contract for the same with IAF is under advanced stage of approval.”
According to HAL, the TPE331-12B engines have been supporting the HTT-40 prototypes since 2014 and the two companies are now working closely to support the export potential of the HTT-40. Honeywell’s TPE331-12B is a single-shaft turboprop engine, which comprises two power turbines, an integral inlet and gearbox, a stage centrifugal compressor, a three-stage axial turbine, and a turbine exhaust diffuser. It also offers electronic engine control (EEC) for reliable power and operational characteristics. The Honeywell TPE331 (military designation: T76) is a turboprop engine. It was originally designed in the 1950s by Garrett AiResearch, and produced since 1999 by Honeywell Aerospace.
The HAL HTT-40 (Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40) is an Indian training aircraft designed and built by HAL. It will replace the Indian Air Force’s retired HPT-32 Deepak as a basic trainer. The HTT-40 is an all-metal, tandem seat aircraft powered by a 1,100 hp (820 kW) turboprop engine. On 28 February 2015, it was reported that the Indian defense ministry had selected 68 HAL HTT-40 trainers and 38 Pilatus trainers. On 21 June 2015, HAL chose the Honeywell Garrett TPE331-12B turboprop to power the trainer. The deal was signed on 27 July 2022, for 88 engines, kits, maintenance and support worth more than $100 million. Honeywell will work with HAL to extend support for exports. HAL rolled out the first prototype on 2 February 2016 and it first flew on 31 May 2016.
