Interview | Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, R. Madhavan || February 2019

Tell us about the Joint Venture between Rostec, Russian Helicopters and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)?

The Inter-Governmental Agreement which concluded on 25 December 2015 between the government of India and the government of the Russian Federation envisages supply of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters to Indian defence services (army & IAF) through a Joint Venture (JV) company in India. Accordingly, a Joint Venture company ‘Indo-Russian Helicopter Limited’ (IRHL) was incorporated on 2 May 2017 with the following stakeholding — HAL 50.5 per cent; Russian Helicopters 42 per cent; and Rosoboronexport 7.5 per cent.

Against a Request for Information (RFI) dated 9 May 2017, the joint venture IRHL has submitted the techno-commercial proposal for supply of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters and allied equipment. The proposal is under evaluation by the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC). The JV is committed to commence deliveries as per the delivery schedule in the Request for Proposal (RFP).

Please give us an update on the LCA Tejas.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) handed over Drawing Applicability List and Equipment Standard of Preparation (SOP) documents to HAL on 31 December 2018, duly cleared by the Centre of Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) to go ahead with the production of FOC standard aircraft.

HAL has established a manufacturing facility for production of eight aircraft per annum. Currently, HAL is producing LCA IOC standard aircraft for which IOC was received from ADA in December 2013. To date, HAL has produced 12 IOC standard LCA fighters. The balance four IOC standard aircraft are under production and will be delivered progressively in the current financial year.

HAL has also taken up the production of LCA FOC fighter aircraft after receiving the SOP and has planned to deliver all 16 FOC fighter progressively. For eight trainer aircraft (four each in IOC and FOC contracts), SOP is yet to be released for production.

In order to speed up the production of LCA, an investment of Rs 1,381 crores has been sanctioned by