HAL Facilities Are of National Importance, Cannot be Allowed to be Idle: MoS Defence

Expressing concern over HAL’s order book beyond 2020-21, minister of state for defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre said that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities are of national importance and cannot be left idle. He was speaking at a Public Private Partnership (PPP) summit under ‘Make-in-India’ held at HAL’s Nashik division on December 9.

Dr. Bhamre also said that with the availability of the state-of-the art infrastructure and expertise built over years, additional orders on HAL would help Indian Air Force (IAF) bridge the gap between the existing and desired squadron strength in the shortest possible time. “This is possible with Public-Private partnership,” he added.

Minister of state for defence, according to a statement, also assured HAL that work load for Nashik will continue to flow even after Su-MKI manufacturing and production activities conclude in next few years. “HAL has the world class facilities and given the successful integration of BrahMos on Su-30 MKI, 40 more aircraft will undergo such integration. Besides this, HAL can shift part of its LCA manufacturing at Nashik and there is possibility of FGFA work happening at Nashik”, he said.

Pertinently, the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile was for the first time successfully test-fired from Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet in November this year.

Speaking on the occasion, CMD HAL, T. Suvarna Raju 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.