Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country’s largest helicopter factory owned and operated by the government-run defense and aerospace firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Spread over 615 acres, the factory aims to be the one stop solution for all helicopter requirements in India.
Located at Tumakuru in Karnataka, the factory will initially manufacture the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), a three tonne class multirole helicopter powered by a single engine. The facility’s initial capacity to commission 30 helicopters per year is said to be scalable to 60 and eventually 90 helicopters per year.
“Initially producing LUH, the factory will be scaled up to produce Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH). In future, LCH will also undertake Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of LUH The facility will be utilised. , Advanced Light Helicopter and IMRH,” HAL said.
The firm has ambitious plans to produce over 1,000 helicopters in the 3-15 ton range with a total turnover of over Rs 4 lakh crore over a period of two decades. Notably, the new factory is also in close proximity to the existing HAL facilities in the city of Bengaluru, which is widely regarded as the aerospace and IT hub of India.
The newly inaugurated facility is fully operational with a heli-runway, flight hangar, final assembly hangar, structure assembly hangar, air traffic control and various ancillary service facilities.
As India’s largest aerospace firm, HAL is responsible for manufacturing (indigenous and licensed) a wide range of fighter aircraft, helicopters, engines, avionics, engineering materials, systems, etc. for the Indian Armed Forces.