Bengaluru, Feb 21 (UNI) In a major stride towards development of indigenous civilian aircraft , the Union Finance Ministry has approved a Rs 6000 crore project proposal produce Saras aircrarft developed National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), the premier establishment under DRDO.

Addressing a press conference here on the sidelines of on going Aero India-2019, the NAL Director Jitendra Jadhav, said on Thursday that NAL got certification for its improved version of Saras (Mk2) recently. "The Union Finance ministry had also approved a project proposal to develop Civil Aircraft of 70 to 90 seater capacity,' he added.

Meanwhile, he said in the coming years the first prototype of the larger number of seater Aircraft would be rolled out. "It will be the best in class of Futuristic Civilian Aircraft in terms of technology to be developed indigenous", he added.

While stating that the NAL will develop the aircraft it in collaboration with the HAL, which will produce it TATA Advance System, he said "We are also looking at a Global partner to work with the project".

The NAL would submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the project in the next 18 months. "The proposed development of the Aircraft, would revolutionise the connectivity issues in the country", he said.

Referring to the production of the improved version of the Saras (Mk2), he said that with the completion of the certification process of the 14-seater Aircraft, the Indian Air Force, had issued order for the supply of 15 numbers, which would go up to somewhere between 120 to 140 in the coming years.

Replying to a question, he said that "we have sorted out the Weight issue, which was encountered earlier and succeeded in bringing the weight of the Aircraft down by over 900 kilos. The Mk2 version of the Saras will also be fitted with the advance version of avionics".

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