From the IAF’s newly-acquired Airbus C 295 and its strategic airlifter Boeing C 17 Globemaster III, Pratt & Whitney is powering tens of commercial airliners in criss-crossing the Indian skies. P&W has been in India for over 70 years, on the very first Dakota DC-3 powered by its Wasp engine, which enable the aircraft to fly over the mountains in critical times.
The US company has a tremendous track record in sustaining millions of flight hours across the world, on different aircraft and in different terrains, with a great track record.
We asked Ashmita Sethi, Pratt & Whitney’s India President and Country Head, to herself explain the best of technologies the P&W engines promise towards the expansion of India’s Civil and Military Aviation. The Q & A:
Q1. Indian Air Force (IAF) recently inducted the Airbus C295, could you tell us more about the engines that power the aircraft?
We are proud to power the C295 with our PW127G engines. The C295 is a proven next-generation light & medium transport platform and the PW127G are part of the PW100/PW150 family of engines that has a legacy of excellence. In India, the PW100/150 family powers nearly 90 ATR 42/72 and Q400 aircraft for airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet and Alliance Air. It is the backbone for Indian government’s UDAN vision in regional aviation segment.
The PW127G is extremely versatile, dependable and efficient. It delivers lower fuel burn during cruise which enables exceptional range and endurance for time-critical missions. We have significantly honed the dispatch reliability of our engines to industry leading performance, and they are able to fly on command, increasing response times for the platform – which is a critical strategic advantage for the IAF. The PW127G will empower the upcoming C-295 fleet to execute essential and critical missions for the Indian Air Force.
Q2. We have seen an increased thrust by the IAF on modernizing its transport fleet, and many of these new platforms seem to be Pratt & Whitney powered. Could you tell us more?
Pratt & Whitney has a longstanding association with India which spans over seven decades – from the very first DC-3 Dakotas being powered by the Wasp engine. Today, the Indian Air Force is modernizing its transport fleet – and that will be essential to meet its humanitarian, cargo, and strategic mission needs. Additionally, the modern transport fleet will need to not just be capable and dependable, but also operate in diverse terrains. This is where aircraft engines play a crucial role in delivering mission success.
From the F117-powered Boeing C-17 Globemaster to the twin-PW127G-powered Airbus C295 that arrived this year – Pratt & Whitney is proud to be the “engine power” of IAF’s transport fleet modernization. Beyond these two platforms, we see more future opportunities to power platforms like the Embraer C390 Millenium, that are uniquely suited for IAF’s strategic needs.
Q3. You mentioned the C390 Millenium, which is being offered for the IAF’s Medium Transport Requirement by Embraer. Is that powered by Pratt and Whitney?
The C-390 Millennium is powered by the V2500-E5, based on the engine and nacelle of the V2500-A5. The V2500-E5 delivers 31,000 pounds of reliable, efficient, and clean thrust. Robust, sturdy and versatile, the V2500-E5 enables the C-390 to conduct cargo and troop transport, aerial refueling, and disaster relief missions. The engine has a strong existing legacy in-country already – having helped revolutionize private aviation in the mid-2000s. The V2500 is delivering efficiency, world-class durability, extended time on wing and versatility for India even today.
Q4. We’ve seen a slate of investments by Pratt & Whitney in India? Could you tell us more about these?
Pratt & Whitney is a RTX business, and with an Indian workforce of more than 5,000 people – RTX is one of the country’s largest exporters in aerospace and defense from India. We have been deeply invested in the country – and given the country’s growing aerospace and defense talent and capabilities, we expect our commitment to continually grow.
In 2015 we made our flagship investment in the India Customer Training Center in Hyderabad, which incidentally trains airline engineers and technicians on engines like the GTF and the V2500 – which is the engine on the C390 Millenium. Subsequently, in 2022-23, we made a combined $40 million investment in India Capability Center (ICC) and the India Engineering Center (IEC) in Bengaluru.
Our supply chain and services sourcing continue to grow as well. Our network of suppliers includes leading aerospace suppliers such as Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd., KUN Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., Titan Engineering & Automation Pvt. Ltd., Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd., PMI Engineering Exports Pvt. Ltd. and Magellan Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. We have sourced nearly $55 million in the past 10 years from India. We have also sourced over $500M in Engineering Services into India over the past 2 decades – from suppliers like Cyient, Quest, Accenture and Wipro.
Q5. Are you also looking at innovating out of India? Tapping its start-up potential?
Yes, in 2023 we announced the launch of Percept – an advanced AI-based Aircraft Engine Analysis Tool. Percept is a computer vision product that operates on top of the Awiros Video Intelligence Operating System (OS). Its cloud-based interface allows users to capture images and videos of aircraft engines on their mobile devices and receive real-time responses on parts availability. This helps enable faster and cost-efficient turnaround of leased engine assets. Instead of an inspector having to examine an engine and check part-by-part, Percept automates this inspection, and reduces time taken by nearly 90%.
For Percept, we have been working with Awiros, an Indian Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence (AI) start-up for the past few years to mature this technology; and we are excited to be shifting from technology development to now bringing an operational product to the market. The Percept solution will be deployed exclusively on Pratt & Whitney’s most advanced commercial engines, including the Pratt & Whitney GTFTM engine and the V2500.
