Sept 2026 : SFO Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the flagship aerospace and defence division of NeST Group, has achieved a significant milestone in India’s indigenous civil aviation programme by handing over the first airworthy Primary Power Distribution System (PPDS) developed for the SARAS MK-II passenger aircraft.
The system was unveiled at NeST Hi-Tek Park in Kalamassery and formally handed over by N. Jehangir, Chairman and Managing Director of NeST Group, to Abhay Anant Pashilkar, Director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL). The event was also attended by Krishnadas Nair, former Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and Nazneen Jehangir, Executive Director and CEO of NeST Digital.
The PPDS has been jointly designed and developed by SFO Technologies and CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru, to meet stringent airworthiness requirements. It serves as a critical component of the electrical architecture of the 19-seater SARAS MK-II, managing and distributing electrical power generated by the aircraft’s twin turboprop engines to various mission-critical systems.
The system also incorporates advanced monitoring capabilities that allow real-time health monitoring of critical electrical components through the aircraft’s central flight computer. This capability is intended to enhance the reliability and operational safety of the aircraft’s electrical systems.
Speaking on the occasion, N. Jehangir said SFO Technologies was proud to partner with CSIR-NAL on an important national aerospace programme. He said the achievement would encourage the company to undertake increasingly complex aerospace engineering projects and contribute further to India’s indigenous aviation capabilities.
Abhay Anant Pashilkar described the PPDS as the core of the SARAS MK-II’s electrical system. According to him, the system integrates multiple electrical sources, including generators and batteries, to ensure reliable power management across the aircraft.
The SARAS MK-II programme has completed the Critical Design Reviews of all its systems and is now progressing towards the Aircraft Level Critical Design Review, marking another important stage in its development.
Adding to the project’s indigenous character, NeST Digital has developed the software for the PPDS entirely in-house. The company specialises in high-criticality technology solutions for sectors including avionics, automotive and healthcare. The integration of domestically developed hardware and software highlights the growing capabilities of India’s private aerospace technology ecosystem.
Developed by CSIR-NAL, SARAS MK-II is a 19-seater aircraft intended to support regional connectivity under the Union Government’s UDAN scheme. The aircraft is designed to connect remote and smaller hubs across India. It is also being developed with the capability to undertake military transport roles for the Indian Air Force.
The dual-use nature of SARAS MK-II gives the programme significance beyond civilian aviation, with potential applications in both regional passenger connectivity and defence transportation.
The successful handover of the airworthy PPDS marks an important step in the aircraft’s development and reflects collaboration between India’s public-sector research institutions and private technology companies. It also underscores the growing emphasis on indigenous design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the country’s aerospace sector.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
