HAL & Safran Strengthen Cooperation to Produce Forged Parts for LEAP Engines

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines for the industrialization and production of rotating parts for LEAP engines. General manager, LCA division, Abdul Salam signed an agreement with vice president, purchasing, Safran Aircraft Engines, Dominique Dupuy on June 18.

This agreement follows the memorandum of understanding signed by Safran Aircraft Engines and HAL in October 2023 to develop industrial cooperation in LEAP engine parts manufacturing, as well as the contract signed last February by both partners to produce super alloy forged parts. Safran Aircraft Engines is thus continuing to expand its footprint in India and is extending the scope of its cooperation with HAL through the production of Inconel parts.

The objective is to support the strong growth of the Indian aerospace market and ensure the ramp-up of LEAP engines powering single-aisle civil aircraft. To this end, Safran Aircraft Engines is developing a complete aerospace ecosystem based on the creation of new facilities in India and closer cooperation with its major Indian partners such as HAL.

Upon development of critical near-net Ring Forging technology at HAL, SAE and HAL have now signed an agreement for production of Inconel parts at the state-of-the-art Ring Rolling facility at HAL’s Foundry & Forge Division in Bengaluru, supporting LEAP programme’s ramp-up for global airline requirements. Further, both companies are working together to develop technology for the balance parts.

“We are really proud to expand this long-standing partnership with Safran and to develop our industrial expertise in forging processes for Inconel parts for the LEAP program”, said chairman and managing director of HAL, Dr D.K. Sunil.

“We are pleased to extend our collaboration with HAL, a key player of the Indian aerospace industry,” said Safran Aircraft Engines’ purchasing VP, Dominique Dupuy. “This industrial cooperation is part of our roadmap to diversify our production sourcing and strengthen our industrial footprint in India, so as to support the growth of domestic air traffic with our LEAP engine and prepare for future requirements of military parts.”