RUAG Aviation

New Delhi. The Swiss-German RUAG Aviation is offering India the modernized version of Dornier 228 with better engines, glass cockpit and five blade composite propellers, which will help reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs. 

The Dornier 228 NG (Next Generation), under production now by RUAG in Germany since 2009, is a more efficient aircraft than the model with India with less weight and more engine power. And once an agreement is through with HAL for joint production within agreed prices, then RUAG will also give a commitment to buy at least six green aircraft per year from HAL.

A RUAG delegation was in India recently, and according to Thomas K Schilliger, Vice President Commercial Programmes, RUAG Aviation, the production process of this twin-engine turboprop in India along with HAL could begin next year itself with delivery from 2015 onwards.

India’s HAL has been producing the existing model for several years after an agreement in mid-1980s for use mainly by the Indian Air Force (IAF), Navy and Coast Guard. In fact RUAG assisted HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division in Kanpur to manufacture the entire EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) approved airframe for NG aircraft and HAL has already supplied 8 ship sets to RUAG in Germany where it is customized for onward sales to RUAG’s own customers for commuter or specified intelligence and surveillance roles.

The NG version has the newer Honeywell TPE331-10 engines, which are 25 percent more powerful than the Honeywell Garrett TPE-331-5-252D engines in the current Indian model, as also a modern glass cockpit and five blade composite propellers. The new propellers are lighter and smaller in diameter, thereby reducing noise and adding to the safety factors.

The glass cockpit has only four MFDs (Multi Function Displays) instead of the traditional bank of panels.

HAL, which has produced nearly 120 aircraft so far, describes the Dornier 228 it manufactures as a highly fuel-efficient, rugged, reliable, twin turbo-prop aircraft with advanced technologies in design and production and has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirement of various roles for military, para-military and civil operators. Functional versatility with low operating cost makes HAL DO-228 adaptable for a wide variety of roles including Commuter, Utility, Corporate, Aircrew Training, Maritime Surveillance, Search & Rescue and for Observation & Communication duties.

There is reportedly now a new requirement for 54 new Dornier aircraft, and for the sake of commonality and costing, RUAG is looking for a tie-up for the Next Generation model with HAL. “It is to mutual advantage both in terms of technology and costs,” Mr Schilliger told India Strategic recently pointing out that it will help RUAG reduce its European prices by around $ 2 million/ aircraft.

RUAG accordingly wants to shift its Dornier 228NG production facility in Germany to India to cater to both the Indian as well as western customers by offering the aircraft manufactured jointly in India.

RUAG however will customize the interiors by itself, depending upon whether an aircraft is needed for passenger or Intelligence role, Mr Schilliger said.

The Dornier 228 NG is described by RUAG as a versatile, reliable and cost efficient aircraft qualified for various special mission and regional air traffic.

The new generation Dornier 228 has features like state-of-the-art avionics and communication systems, Universal UNS-1 digital glass cockpit with four 5x7in (13x18cm) Multifunction Displays (MFDs) featuring electronic instrument displays, better engines, longer range, better payload, new landing gear design and five-bladed propellers to name a few.

RUAG sees a potential for some 300 Dornier 228 NGs internationally over the next 20 years.