Aero India 2011: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to give wing to 1,500 copters

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be designing, developing and manufacturing 1,500 helicopters in the next decade.

HAL finance director D Shivamurti said on Thursday that of the 1,500 choppers to be developed by the Bangalore-headquartered public sector undertaking, 100 would be Advanced Light Helicopters, 300 would be Light Utility Helicopters and the remaining would be multi-role helicopters of the 10-12 tonne class.

Besides, HAL will be investing about Rs20,000 crore over the next 10 years to modernise and expand its capacity to execute orders valued at Rs1,00,000 crore.

Shivamurti added that HAL has Rs9,000 crore in reserves.

To a query, he said HAL is awaiting government approval to go public and raise funds. “Being a fully-owned state-run enterprise, it is for the government to decide,” he said.

IJT to get clearance in June
The Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) would be given the Initial Operational Clearance by June enabling the Indian Air Force to test the aircraft.

The IJT is expected to replace the HJT-16 Kiran in its role as a stage II trainer in the air force.

In the 2007 edition of Aero India, the first prototype of the IJT suffered a set-back as the canopy of the aircraft flew open during takeoff causing serious damage to the aircraft.

Again in February 2009, the second prototype of the aircraft while practising for the Aero India, landed on its belly causing structural damage to the undercarriage and belly of the aircraft.

Shivamurthi said that previous problems had been overcome and that the first batch of five aircraft is under production.

HAL has an order for 159 aircraft from the air force. Two prototypes of the IJT are currently on display at the ongoing Aero India.