India's HAL Has Eyes on Higher Aerospace Horizon

[sonicboom]

India's HAL Has Eyes on Higher Aerospace Horizon
By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
Published: 10 Feb 2011 14:57


BANGALORE - India's sole military aircraft manufacturer, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has drawn plans to become a global aerospace manufacturer.

D. Shivamurthy, director of finance and acting chairman, told reporters at Aero India 2011 that "HAL aims to become a global aerospace manufacturer in the design and development of new air platforms in partnership with overseas and domestic companies."

Related Topics
Europe
Asia & Pacific Rim
Air Warfare
HAL, with annual sales near $3 billion and an order book of around $22 billion, plans to spend 9 percent of its funds from the next financial year on R&D, Shivamurthy said. HAL also plans to spend about $4 billion on modernization in the next 10 years, he added.

HAL hopes to tap the growing helicopter market as the Indian defense forces phase out more than 300 aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters and purchase a variety of replacements, including combat helicopters.

"HAL will manufacture around 1,500 helicopters in the next 10 years," said Shivamurthy. Besides the Advanced Light Helicopter, which is in use by the Indian defense forces, HAL is developing the Light Utility Helicopter, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and medium lift helicopters.

HAL showcased its homemade Light Utility Helicopter and LCH at the Aero India show. The LCH also took part in the flying displays and was also placed on the tarmac.

Regarding the joint development of the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) with Russia, HAL plans to manufacture the 20-ton transport aircraft by 2017, Shivamurthy said.

Both India - through HAL - and the Russians are pooling $300 million to manufacture the MTA, which is targeted to replace Indian Air Force's transport aircraft that were largely bought from Russia.

HAL has already tied up or is in various stages of negotiation with several overseas defense majors to boost its profile as an aerospace major, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Airbus, Bell, Eurocopter and Pratt & Whitney, said a senior HAL official.

HAL has also established a joint partnership with Elbit of Israel to manufacture simulators and avionics for the Israeli firm's Skylark mini UAVs. The venture will help HAL develop a mini UAV of its own.

HAL also has a license to produce Russian-made Su-30 MKI aircraft. Shivamurthy said there is a firm order of 140 Su-30 MKIs from the Indian Air Force, out of which 100 aircraft will be delivered by the end of this year.

Shivamurthy said in the financial year ending March 31, HAL's total sales would be $2.8 billion, compared with $2.55 last year.

India's HAL Has Eyes on Higher Aerospace Horizon - Defense News