HAL gears up to target overseas markets

The state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is on an aggressive mission to tap opportunities in the international market.

The country's premier public sector defence company expects to sell a significantly higher number of helicopters, aircraft, avionic systems and other defence-related equipment to many countries in the coming years.

According to a company official, HAL, with pending orders worth Rs 30,000 crore, is all set to strike gold with a series of indigenous projects currently on in full swing.

"HAL is making all-out efforts to increase exports. The present export revenue is around Rs 200 crore and we expect this figure to improve drastically in the coming years," said D Shivamurti, director (finance), HAL.

The company recently climbed six notches on the defence news rating to become 45th among the world's top 100 aerospace firms.

Speaking to Business Standard, Shivamurti said HAL anticipated growth of 20 per cent at the end of this fiscal, surpassing its average growth rate in recent years by 5 per cent.

According to him, orders that are pending are expected to be executed in the next 3-5 years. Significant among them is a contract for manufacturing aircraft doors for Airbus A-320. HAL has been producing about 16 doors per month for A-320 after it signed a contract worth $80 million two years ago.

Shivamurti said HAL's turnover last fiscal was to the tune of Rs 5,335 crore and the company expected the figure to be in the range of Rs 6,000-6,500 crore this year.

The Sukhoi-30 MKI, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Dhruv), Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Tejas), Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) and Dornier add up to the bulk of orders received by HAL. These alone account for about Rs 20,000 crore.

Many countries have shown an interest in HAL's Dhruv helicopter.