Boost indigenous production of choppers: HAL chief

Says we now look forward to a well-defined strategy

Hindustan Aeronautics Chairman R K Tyagi today called for concerted efforts to intensify indigenous production of helicopters, even as the government’s ‘Make In India’ programme aiming at boosting the domestic manufacturing.

“In the wake of emerging civil and military requirement of helicopters in India especially in the areas of disaster management, air surveillance, offshore operations and law enforcement, there is a tremendous opportunity for indigenous development,” Tyagi said.

Delivering the keynote address at the National Seminar on ‘Make in India’ — Civil and Military Helicopters: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges organised by Rotary Wing Society of India, he said: “Developing global partnerships and collaboration in rotary wing technologies will provide a solid foundation in the global aeronautics space.”

“Development of risk sharing partners, vendor base of Tier-I & II and outsourcing of MRO activities offers huge business opportunities to Indian private industry,” he added. The Rotary Wing Society of India is a non-profit professional society established for the growth of Civil and Military helicopters in India.

Highlighting HAL’s success in developing helicopters that has played a key role in search and rescue operations for the Indian defence forces, Tyagi said, “With the Government’s thrust on ‘Make in India’, we now look forward to a well-defined strategy on helicopters, modernisation of production facilities, collaboration with Indian research labs and aggressively pursue technology to increase production.”