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ADA in $3.2-mn deal to supply software to US

Rezaul H Laskar in New Delhi

In a major breakthrough in marketing of indigenously developed defence technology, a leading Indian aeronautical agency has signed a $3.2-million deal with a US firm to provide software that will be used in the development of the Airbus A380 aircraft.

The state-owned Aeronautical Development Agency, which has been heading the country's light combat aircraft programme, will supply its 'Autolay' software package to Parametric Technology Corporation, a computer-aided design and manufacture software major from the US.

Ironically, much of the indigenous software used in the LCA was developed by ADA after US defence firms pulled out of the programme following sanctions imposed by Washington in the wake of New Delhi's nuclear tests of May 1998.

In addition to using the Autolay software for the design and development of the Airbus A380, Parametric will market the technology internationally, a spokesman for the defense ministry said.

The LCA, which has been in development since the late 1980s, flew for the first time in January this year. The Autolay software was developed by ADA to test lightweight composite materials used in the manufacture of the LCA.

Composites make up as much as 45 per cent of the LCA's airframe, making it the first combat aircraft to make such extensive use of the material.

"Autolay automates the creation of engineering data required to drive end-to-end design and manufacturing simulation process of laminated composite components," the spokesman said.

"Depending on the complexity of component design and extent of automation in the fabrication process, reduction of cycle times of up to 70 per cent is possible by using Autolay."

This could result in a reduction of up to six to eight months in the time taken to design and develop a modern aircraft. Autolay software can also be used in shipbuilding, automobile and sports goods industries.

The spokesman said the signing of the contract between ADA and Parametric was the 'culmination of a long-drawn and extensive benchmarking' by Airbus to select composite design software for the A380 project.

The A380, which will be capable of carrying 555 passengers, is expected to make its first flight in 2004, followed by entry into commercial service in 2006.

Indo-Asian News Service

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