Dr. Subhash Bhamre, Raksha Rajya Mantri (Minister of State for Defence), assured Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that the work load for Nashik, India, will continue to flow even after Su-MKI manufacturing and production activities conclude in the next few years.
“HAL has world class facilities and [has] given the successful integration of BraMos on Su-30 MKI — 40 more aircraft will undergo such integration,” said Bhamre at Public Private Partnership (PPP) Summit under Make in India held at HAL Nashik on Dec. 9. “Besides this, HAL can shift part of its LCA manufacturing at Nashik, and there is possibility of [fifth generation fighter aircraft] FGFA work happening at Nashik.”
Speaking on the occasion, T. Suvarna Raju, chief managing director of HAL, said the company is keen to encourage private partnership in all its activities, and as a major step, it would like to offer the indigenous helicopter ‘ALH Dhruv’ (civil version) for manufacturing to select Indian private companies through transfer of technology.
HAL is likely to float RFI soon for identifying the Indian private agency that can produce Dhruv helicopters in the future. Considering the increasing need of helicopters in civil operations of the country, this will be a mega deal from HAL which is the OEM and licensee.
Udayanth Malhatra, chief executive officer and managing director of Dynamatic Technologies Limited (Bengaluru), symbolically handed over the 100th ship set of Su-30 MKI assemblies to Raju in the presence of RRM.
Bhamre in his speech pointed out that the delivery of 100th empennage assemblies also affirms the successful public-private partnership in the outsourcing of aircraft assemblies, which has become a role model under the Make in India program.
Bhamre said there is a need for a larger ecosystem of private enterprises to transform themselves for greater participation in the aerospace sector to support the government’s Make in India initiative. HAL has been instrumental in nurturing a competitive aviation environment in India by way of collaborating with private industries as outsourced partners with more than 30 percent of HAL’s man-hours being outsourced, including several critical work packages.
Bhamre further said that it is a welcome move that private organizations are being engaged in design and developments of products and technologies.
“I request all the stake holders of this aerospace and defense manufacturing ecosystem to contribute,” he added.
Expressing concern over HAL’s order book beyond 2020 to 2021, Bhamre said HAL’s facility is of national importance and cannot be idle. With the availability of state-of-the art infrastructure and expertise built over the years, additional orders on HAL would help IAF bridge the gap between the existing and desired squadron strength in the shortest possible time. This is possible with public-private partnership, he said.
