This was decided in a meeting between the board and senior officials of HAL, and the top commanders of IAF at the conference held at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhavan) in New Delhi yesterday, the company said.
"Hand-holding is important considering the challenges involved in manufacturing and operational fronts," Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal, Arup Raha was quoted as saying by HAL in a release.
"Normally these OEMs work with two or more agencies. There is greater cohesion, understanding and mutual benefits when these OEMs are dealt from one platform," he said.