India has potential to export choppers, observers

Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd (HAL) said it is ready to transfer technology to private defence companies in India to manufacture a civil version of the indigenous chopper, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Dhruv), Deccan Herald reported.

HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju said the company was keen to encourage private partnership in all its activities.

ALH’s civil version can be used for short-distance passenger transport, VIP travel, search and rescue, emergency medical service, underslung load, disaster relief, offshore operations in varying and challenging geographical terrains.

Raju was speaking at the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Summit under ‘Make In India’ held at HAL Nashik on 9 Dec 2017.

HAL has the state-of-the-art aircraft assembly line including second production line for fighter jet Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

Its manufacturing capacity include LCA-Tejas for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

HAL is ramping up capacity to double LCAs in partnership with IAF/Navy.

It is introducing major sub-assembly such as front, centre and rear fuselages and wings have been outsourced to the private players.

The Indian and foreign-owned private sectors have expressed strong interests in being partners of major aircraft producers in the country, industry observers said.

India’s private sector has campaigned for a share of defence sector business, especially manufacturing of parts, they said.

Sharing technology for manufacturing of civil helicopters, based on the design strength of those used in the defence sector, will put India among the world’s leading chopper manufacturers with strong export potential to emerging economies, they said.

Made in India helicopters will be competitive on prices with international producers, especially American, European and Russian origins, according to the observers. fii-news.com