Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was established in 1964 as a merger between ‘Hindustan Aircraft Limited’, ‘Aeronautics India Limited’ and ‘Aircraft Manufacturing Depot’, Kanpur. Today, HAL has 19 Production Units and nine Research and Design Centers in seven locations in India. The company has produced 12 types of aircraft, and produced 14 types under license. In total, HAL has manufactured over 3550 aircraft, 3600 engines and overhauled over 8150 aircraft and 27300 engines.
Among the current programs underway at HAL are the development and production of the Advanced Dhruv Light Helicopter (ALH), and its derivative Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), development and production of the first indigenous Indian fighter aircraft Tejas – Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), development of an Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), production under license of Sukhoi Su30MKI, and Various military and civil aircraft upgrades. Two programs under development embarked in 2010 are the development of 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft – a joint Indo-Russian program, and the development of the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft, also under JV between India and Russia.
HAL also supports India’s space program with the manufacturing of structures for satellite launch vehicles including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), and indigenous Indian spacecraft including the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Indian Remote Satellite (IRS) and Indian National Satellite (INSAT).HAL’s main operating units include the aerospace, aircraft and helicopter, engines, MRO, foundry and forge divisions at Bangalore, the Nasik based Aircraft division, avionics divisions in Hyderabad, Korwa, the engine division at Koraput, transport aircraft division at Kanpur and accessories operations at Lucknow.
Apart from these main operating divisions HAL also established joint ventures with domestic and foreign companies as part of its growth strategy and entry into new technological fields. HAL established such JV with BAE Systems in 1993 (BAeHAL Software Limited) to develop and support avionic and defense IT. Engine production and support with Snecma (Snecma HAL Aerospace Pvt Ltd). Maintenance, upgrading and support of Russian aircraft (Indo-Russian Aviation Limited – IRAL), Avionic displays with Samtel (Samtel HAL Display System Limited – SHDS). HAL has also established two JVs specialized in avionics, a development, production and support center for advanced avionics, established with Israel’s Elbit Systems (HALBIT) and Avionics design and development center established with U.S. Edgewood Ventures, an ‘Indian-based accelerator’ operating in the U.S. and Indian market, specialized in semiconductor, satellite based systems, telecommunications, aerospace and defense. HAL also established a n engineering design services joint venture company with IT provider Infotech (INFOTECH HAL) offering engineering services for the aerospace sector.
