Safran and HAL Forge Industrial Cooperation for Commercial Engines Parts Manufacturing
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s foremost aviation company, and Safran Aircraft Engines, a global leader in aero engine development, have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the manufacturing of forged parts for commercial engines.
As per the MoU, HAL will fabricate LEAP engine components for Safran Aircraft Engines at its Bangalore facilities, aligning with the Indian Government’s “Make in India” initiative and supporting the LEAP program’s exceptional growth. Safran Aircraft Engines envisions establishing a comprehensive aero engines ecosystem in India. This endeavor will be bolstered by the addition of a fourth site in Hyderabad, dedicated to LEAP MRO activities, by 2025, complementing the existing three production facilities between Hyderabad and Bangalore. The Helicopter Engine MRO (HE-MRO) facility in Goa, a joint venture with HAL, will be the fifth Safran facility in India, set to be operational by 2025.
Shri C.B. Ananthakrishnan, Chairman & Managing Director of HAL, remarked, “Safran is a long-standing partner, especially on our helicopter programs, and also for parts production within the frame of our joint venture in Bangalore. We are very proud to take this partnership to another level, and to develop our skills in key technologies like forging manufacturing. Strengthening our contribution to the production ramp-up of the LEAP program, one of the most successful in the industry, is a fantastic opportunity for HAL.”
Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, expressed, “We are delighted to expand our collaboration with HAL, which is already part of the LEAP Supply Chain through our joint-venture in Bangalore (Safran HAL Aircraft Engines) dedicated to the production of aero-engines pipes. This industrial cooperation on key technologies is consistent with our strategy to further develop our long term ties with Indian aviation industry to sustain the growing domestic market. It also represents a milestone of our long-standing efforts toward reinforcing India’s sovereign capabilities in aero engines design and manufacturing. Such projects will help make Indian industry ready for further ambitious indigenous programs like AMCA engine.”
Safran Aircraft Engines, along with other Safran entities, has a robust presence in India. The country stands as the third largest operator of LEAP engines globally, with 75% of Indian commercial aircraft equipped with CFM’s advanced turbofan. Presently, over 2,200 LEAP engines have been ordered by Indian airlines. The Indian Air Force has been a longstanding customer of French jet fighters powered by Safran engines, operating M53-powered Mirage 2000 and Rafale equipped with the M88 engine. In addition to commercial and Military Aviation, Safran equipment is employed by the Indian Navy, Indian Army, and ISRO for various products and design solutions.