Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Explained

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Logo Alt:HAL Logo
Type:Public
Industry:
Location City:Bangalore, Karnataka
Location Country:India[1]
Key People:CB Ananthakrishnan (Additional Charge)
Products:
Revenue: (2024)[2]
Operating Income: (2024)
Profit: (2024)
Assets: (2024)[3]
Equity: (2024)
Num Employees:24,457 (March 2023)[4]
Owner:Government of India (71.65%)[5] [6]

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bangalore. Established on 23 December 1940, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the world.[7] HAL began aircraft manufacturing as early as 1942 with licensed production of Harlow PC-5, Curtiss P-36 Hawk and Vultee A-31 Vengeance for the Indian Air Force.[7] HAL currently has 11 dedicated Research and development (R&D) centres and 21 manufacturing divisions under 4 production units spread across India.[7] HAL is managed by a board of directors appointed by the President of India through the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.[8] HAL is currently involved in designing and manufacturing of fighter jets, helicopters, jet engine and marine gas turbine engine, avionics, software development, spares supply, overhauling and upgrading of Indian military aircraft.[9]

The HAL HF-24 Marut fighter-bomber was the first indigenous fighter aircraft made in India.

History

HAL was established as Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Bangalore on 23 December 1940 by Walchand Hirachand in association with the then Kingdom of Mysore.[10] Walchand Hirachand became chairman of the company. The company's office was opened at a bungalow called "Eventide" on Domlur Road.

The organisation and equipment for the factory at Bangalore was set up by William D. Pawley of the Intercontinental Aircraft Corporation of New York. Pawley obtained a large number of machine-tools and equipment from the United States.

The Mysore Kingdom bought a one-third stake in the company and by April 1941 by investing ₹25 lakh as it believed this to be a strategic imperative. The decision by the government was primarily motivated to boost British military hardware supplies in Asia to counter the increasing threat posed by Imperial Japan during Second World War. The Kingdom of Mysore supplied two directors, Air Marshal John Higgins was resident director. The first aircraft built was a Harlow PC-5[11] On 2 April 1942, the government announced that the company had been nationalised when it had bought out the stakes of Seth Walchand Hirachand and other promoters so that it could act freely. The Mysore Kingdom refused to sell its stake in the company but yielded the management control over to the British Indian Government.

In 1943 the Bangalore factory was handed over to the United States Army Air Forces but still using Hindustan Aircraft management. The factory expanded rapidly and became the centre for major overhaul and repair of American aircraft and was known as the 84th Air Depot. The first aircraft to be overhauled was a Consolidated PBY Catalina followed by every type of aircraft operated in India and Burma. When returned to Indian control two years later the factory had become one of the largest overhaul and repair organisations in the East. In the post war reorganisation the company built railway carriages as an interim activity.

After India gained independence in 1947, the management of the company was passed over to the Government of India.

The total number of broad- gauge coaches manufactured by the Hindustan Aircraft Limited during the year 1954 is 158. [12]

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was formed on 1 October 1964 (the Registrar of Companies has a registration date of 16 August 1963)[13] when Hindustan Aircraft Limited joined the consortium formed in June by the IAF Aircraft Manufacturing Depot, Kanpur (at the time manufacturing HS748 under licence) and the group recently set up to manufacture MiG-21 under licence, with its new factories planned in Koraput, Nasik and Hyderabad.[14] Though HAL was not used actively for developing newer models of fighter jets, except for the HF-24 Marut, the company has played a crucial role in modernisation of the Indian Air Force. In 1957 company started manufacturing Bristol Siddeley Orpheus jet engines under licence at new factory located in Bangalore.During the 1980s, HAL's operations saw a rapid increase which resulted in the development of new indigenous aircraft such as the HAL Tejas and HAL Dhruv. HAL also developed an advanced version of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, known as MiG-21 Bison, which increased its life-span by more than 20 years. HAL has also obtained several multimillion-dollar contracts from leading international aerospace firms such as Airbus, Boeing and Honeywell to manufacture aircraft spare parts and engines.

By 2012, HAL was reportedly bogged down in the details of production and has been slipping on its schedules.[15] On 1 April 2015, HAL reconstituted its Board with TS Raju as CMD, S Subrahmanyan as Director (Operations), VM Chamola as Director (HR), CA Ramana Rao as Director (Finance) and D K Venkatesh as Director (Engineering & R&D). There are two government nominees in the board and six independent directors.In March 2017, HAL's chairman and managing director T Suvarna Raju announced that the company had finalised plans for an indigenisation drive. The company plans to produce nearly 1, 000 military helicopters, including Kamov 226, LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter), and over 100 planes over the next 10 years. HAL will manufacture the Kamov 226T helicopter under a joint venture agreement with Russian defence manufacturers. The Kamov 226T will replace the country's fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. Over the next 5 years, HAL will carry out major upgrade of almost the entire fighter fleet of Indian Air Force including Su-30MKI, Jaguars, Mirage and Hawk jets to make them "more lethal". The company will also deliver 123 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to the IAF from 2018 to 2019, at a rate of 16 jets per year.[16] LCH production will now take place in a newly built Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in HAL Complex.[17]

In view of Make in India policy and to increase the share of defence exports to achieve the target of $5 billion by 2025, HAL is planning to set up logistic bases in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam with priority target for Southeast Asia, West Asia and North African markets. It would not only help to promote HAL products but also act as service centre for Soviet/Russian origin equipment.[18]

Operations

One of the largest aerospace companies in Asia, HAL has annual turnover of over 3 billion. More than 40% of HAL's revenues come from international deals to manufacture aircraft engines, spare parts, and other aircraft materials. A partial list of major operations undertaken by HAL includes the following:

International agreements

Domestic agreements

Indigenous products

Over the years, HAL has designed and developed several platforms like the HF-24 Marut,[39] the Dhruv,[40] the LUH,[41] and the LCH.[42] HAL also manufactures indigenous products with technology transferred from the DRDO, in association with Bharat Electronics for its avionics and Indian Ordnance Factories for the on-board weapons systems and ammunition.

HAL supplies ISRO, the integrated L-40 stages for GSLV Mk II, propellant tanks, feed lines of PSLV, GSLV MKII and GSLV MKIII launch vehicles and structures of various satellites.[43]

Agricultural aircraft

Fighter aircraft

Trainer aircraft

Passenger, transport and utility aircraft

Helicopters

Observation and reconnaissance aircraft

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Gliders

Engines

Cryogenic Rocket Engine

Turboshaft Engine

Turbojet Engine

Turbofan Engine

Licensed production

Fighter aircraft

Trainer aircraft

Passenger, transport and utility aircraft

Helicopters

Engines

Turbofan Engines

Turboshaft Engine

Notable people

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: PTI . India's annual defence exports to touch Rs 1,05,000 cr by 2025, says Rajnath Singh . 12 March 2020 . Press Trust of India . Business Line . 27 February 2020 . 14 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200314000952/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/indias-annual-defence-exports-to-touch-rs-35000-cr-by-2024-says-defence-minister-rajnath-singh/article30931827.ece . live .
  2. Web site: HAL Financial 2024. 16 May 2024.
  3. Web site: HAL Financial 2024. 16 May 2024.
  4. Web site: Annual Report - 2012-23 . Hindustan Aeronautics Limited . 3 September 2021 .
  5. Web site: Hindustan Aeronautic Shareholding . economictimes.indiatimes.com . 3 . 29 January 2022 . 29 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129205722/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/hindustan-aeronautics-ltd/shareholding/companyid-9206.cms . live .
  6. Web site: Latest Shareholding Pattern - Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.. 2020-08-07. trendlyne.com. 14 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210814012306/https://trendlyne.com/equity/share-holding/80502/HAL/latest/hindustan-aeronautics-ltd/. live.
  7. Web site: Our History. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 27 March 2021. 16 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416230604/https://hal-india.co.in/Our%20History/M__111. live.
  8. Web site: Corporate Governance. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 9 May 2021. 7 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210507150354/https://hal-india.co.in/Corporate%20Governance/M__114. live.
  9. Web site: HAL Exports. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 9 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512190810/https://hal-india.co.in/Exports/M__67. live.
  10. Web site: History of HAL. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 27 March 2021. 16 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416230604/https://hal-india.co.in/Our%20History/M__111. live.
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 3 January 2012 . 10 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130510094328/http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1954/1954%20-%202391.PDF . bot: unknown . Flight 27 August 1954 p. 296.
  12. Web site: Lok Sabha Debates, Written Questions and Answers, Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi. 26. 23 March 1955. 12 April 2020. 12 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412071500/https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55933/1/lsd_01_09_23-03-1955.pdf. live.
  13. Web site: HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LIMITED . Zauba Corp . 19 September 2022 . 20 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172443/https://www.zaubacorp.com/company/HINDUSTAN-AERONAUTICS-LIMITED/L35301KA1963GOI001622 . live .
  14. Web site: Archived copy . 8 May 2013 . 9 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309050659/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202305.html . bot: unknown . Flight International 1964
  15. Web site: Business Line : Companies News : 'HAL slipping up on deliveries as it handles too many projects' . 4 March 2012 . 7 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120307001016/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2957917.ece . bot: unknown . The Hindu Business Line, 3 March 2012.
  16. Web site: Narendra Modi powers-up HAL's indigenisation drive, India's military may get 100 planes, 1,000 helicopters soon. The Financial Express. 26 March 2017. 26 March 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170327165630/http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/narendra-modi-powers-up-hals-indigenisation-drive-indias-military-may-get-100-planes-1000-helicopters-soon/603118/. 27 March 2017.
  17. Web site: Indigenous Light Combat Helicopter ready for operational induction: HAL. The New Indian Express. 27 February 2020 . 28 February 2020. 28 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200228023418/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/feb/27/indigenous-light-combat-helicopter-ready-for-operational-induction-hal-2109412.html. live.
  18. Web site: HAL eyes bases in four nations to push 'made-in-India' defence products. 2020-03-08. Livemint. en. 2020-03-11. 30 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220830102036/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/hal-eyes-bases-in-four-nations-to-push-made-in-india-defence-products-11583686195801.html. live.
  19. Web site: Boeing to export up to $1 billion in work to India. TheNewsTribune.com.
  20. Web site: India Signs Contract For $964M MiG-29 Upgrade . Aviation Week . 10 March 2008 . 21 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110521061650/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news%2FMIG031008.xml&headline=India%20Signs%20Contract%20For%20%24964M%20MiG-29%20Upgrade . 21 May 2011 .
  21. Web site: HAL to make 1,000 Honeywell engines . The Financial Express . 30 May 2008 . 21 October 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20090726014846/http://www.financialexpress.com/news/HAL-to-make-1-000-Honeywell-engines/316373/ . 26 July 2009 .
  22. News: HAL to make new generation Dornier aircraft . Business Standard India . https://web.archive.org/web/20090129150108/http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?tp=on&autono=39276 . 29 January 2009.
  23. Web site: National : HAL bags $150-million Airbus order . 19 March 2008 . 21 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110116105437/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/19/stories/2008031953481400.htm . . 16 January 2011 .
  24. Web site: Israel News : Israel outsources $100-mn composites for UAVs to India . Israelenews.com . 21 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713063746/http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=2282 . 13 July 2011 .
  25. Web site: Honeywell opens $65m R&D facility in Bangalore . Pacetoday.com.au . 11 May 2009 . 21 October 2010 .
  26. Web site: Hindustan Aeronautics gets $50.7 mln helicopter contract from Ecuador air force . Forbes . 26 June 2008 . 21 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604011348/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/06/26/afx5156692.html. 4 June 2011 .
  27. News: HAL to have maintenance base in Ecuador . The Economic Times . Economictimes.indiatimes.com . 7 September 2008 . 21 October 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20080911023822/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/Airlines__Aviation/HAL_to_have_maintenance_base_in_Ecuador/articleshow/3454528.cms . 11 September 2008 .
  28. Web site: TajaNews . TajaNews . 21 October 2010 .
  29. Web site: HAL secures order for ambulance version of ALH Dhruv from Peru . domain-b.com . 24 June 2008 . 21 October 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110518181200/http://www.domain-b.com/aero/aero_mfg/20080624_ambulance.html . 18 May 2011 .
  30. Web site: HAL bags $20 million contract for supply of three Dhruv helicopters to Turkey . domain-b.com . 12 August 2008 . 21 October 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110518230325/http://www.domain-b.com/aero/aero_mfg/20080812_dhruv_helicopters.html . 18 May 2011 .
  31. News: HAL bags $10 mn order for Chetak, Cheetah from Namibia . The Economic Times . Economictimes.indiatimes.com . 10 June 2009 . 21 October 2010 . 28 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828015247/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Transportation/Airlines--Aviation/HAL-bags-10-mn-order-for-Chetak-Cheetah-from-Namibia/articleshow/4641331.cms . live .
  32. Web site: PTI . India signs pact for supply of Dhruv helicopters to Mauritius . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023093859/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-01/india/28003127_1_india-signs-pact-mauritius-helicopters . dead . 23 October 2012 . 1 March 2009 . . 21 October 2010.
  33. Web site: PTI . 'India, Israel developing unmanned helicopter' -Gulf-World . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021013115/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-04-02/middle-east/27769383_1_helicopter-india-and-israel-joint-development . dead . 21 October 2012 . 2 April 2008 . . 21 October 2010.
  34. Web site: Urs. Anil. 4 February 2021. HAL hopes to fly high with CATS Warrior and RUAV drones. 2021-03-30. Business Line. en.
  35. Web site: India to construct new aerospace hub . Itexaminer.com . 16 October 2008 . 21 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713065205/http://www.itexaminer.com/india-to-construct-new-aerospace-hub.aspx . 13 July 2011 .
  36. Web site: HAL to upgrade Indian Jaguar fleet . Flightglobal.com . 21 October 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520140749/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/24/226033/hal-to-upgrade-indian-jaguar-fleet.html . 20 May 2011 .
  37. Web site: PTI . Hindustan Aeronautics to set up pilot training school-India Business-Business-The Times of India . The Times of India. 16 August 2007 . 21 October 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021002924/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2285122%2Cprtpage-1.cms . 21 October 2012 .
  38. Web site: India awards Russia billion dollar MiG-29 upgrade . AFP News Agency . 3 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130513145424/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iZwSj5dENm0muACD9s1RGFhQ1Rqw . 13 May 2013 . 10 March 2008 . dead.
  39. Web site: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. HF-24 Mk 1 Marut . Deutsches Museum . 3 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210215025653/https://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/flugwerft/collections/jet-aircraft/marut/ . 15 February 2021 . dead.
  40. Web site: DHRUV . Hindustan Aeronautics Limited . 3 September 2021 . 16 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230316053228/https://hal-india.co.in/Product_Details.aspx?Mkey=54&lKey=&CKey=24 . live .
  41. Web site: LUH . Hindustan Aeronautics Limited . 3 September 2021 . 24 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201124025731/https://hal-india.co.in/Product_Details.aspx?Mkey=54&lKey=&CKey=64 . live .
  42. Web site: LCH . Hindustan Aeronautics Limited . 3 September 2021 . 22 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211022125745/https://hal-india.co.in/Product_Details.aspx?Mkey=54&lKey=&CKey=63 . live .
  43. Web site: ISRO's most reliable partner HAL delivers 'Made in India' L-40 stage for GSLV-MKII. 2020-02-28. The Financial Express. en-US. 2020-02-29. 29 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200229141109/https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/isros-most-reliable-partner-hal-delivers-made-in-india-l-40-stage-for-gslv-mkii/1884341/. live.
  44. Web site: INTERVIEW Youngsters can power India into a defence technology leader: Dr Satheesh Reddy. OnManorama. en. August 24, 2022. 30 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220830102037/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2020/02/14/youngsters-india-defence-technology-satheessh-reddy.html. live.
  45. Web site: Richardson . Jack . 2020-06-04 . Indian Government Approval for TEDBF . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200705182703/https://euro-sd.com/2020/06/news/17468/indian-government-approval-for-tedbf/ . 5 July 2020 . 2020-07-05 . European Security & Defence . en-US.
  46. Web site: India's HJT-36 Sitara conducts successful test flight after three-year hiatus Jane's 360 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190424193245/https://www.janes.com/article/88022/india-s-hjt-36-sitara-conducts-successful-test-flight-after-three-year-hiatus . 24 April 2019 . 2020-03-12 . www.janes.com.
  47. Web site: Parrikar: 68 basic trainer aircraft to come from HAL, 38 from Pilatus. 1 March 2015. The Indian Express. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150301190904/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/parrikar-68-basic-trainer-aircraft-to-come-from-hal-38-from-pilatus/. 1 March 2015.
  48. Web site: HAL-built HTT-40's first flight successful. www.oneindia.com. 31 May 2016. 1 June 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601125047/http://www.oneindia.com/india/hal-built-htt-40-first-flight-successful-2114270.html. 1 June 2016.
  49. Web site: Thakur . Aksheev . 2023-02-13 . HLFT-42 to transform training of Indian Air Force pilots: HAL officials . 2023-02-14 . The Indian Express . en . 14 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230214045556/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/aero-india-hal-hlft-42-transform-indian-air-force-pilots-training-8442954/ . live .
  50. News: Parakala . Akshara . Aero India 2021: HAL's loyal wingmen break cover . 15 February 2021 . Janes . 5 February 2021 . 7 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210607074259/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/aero-india-2021-hals-loyal-wingmen-break-cover . live .
  51. News: Chandra . Atul . HAL unveils ambitious air-teaming system centred on Tejas . 15 February 2021 . Flight Global . 4 February 2021 . 3 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603211035/https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/hal-unveils-ambitious-air-teaming-system-centred-on-tejas/142280.article . live .
  52. News: Kadidal . Akhil . Bengaluru startup, HAL team-up for drone battle . 15 February 2021 . DHNS . Deccan Herald . 20 October 2019 . 11 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411165733/https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-startup-hal-team-up-for-drone-battle-769762.html . live .
  53. News: Som . Vishnu . New Indian Drone Can Soar For 90 Days, Coordinate Attacks . 15 February 2021 . NDTV . 4 February 2021 . 10 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210210144806/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/new-indian-drone-can-fly-non-stop-for-90-days-while-monitoring-attacks-2362830 . live .
  54. News: HAL to produce cryogenic engines for ISRO. 9 May 2021. 9 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210509152535/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/hal-to-produce-cryogenic-engines-for-isro/article4661042.ece. live.
  55. News: A long way to go for HAL's new aircraft engine. Our Bureau. The Hindu Business Line. 20 December 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161003232246/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/a-long-way-to-go-for-hals-new-aircraft-engine/article8009277.ece. 3 October 2016.
  56. Web site: Aero Engine . 13 March 2024 . Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
  57. News: ECONOMICTIMES.COM. Boost for 'Make in India': HAL's 25 kN aero engine completes inaugural run; can be used for trainer aircraft . The Economic Times. Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 14 December 2015. 24 July 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160714035754/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/boost-for-make-in-india-hals-25-kn-aero-engine-completes-inaugural-run-can-be-used-for-trainer-aircraft/articleshow/50173767.cms. 14 July 2016.
  58. Web site: History of IAF. 11 November 2017. Indian Air Force. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090409235005/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=98#Republic. 9 April 2009.
  59. Web site: Desk . EurAsian Times . 2021-04-22 . Indian Air Force's Hawk-i Trainer Jet Is Now Equipped With Deadly ASRAAM Missile . 2024-03-13 . Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News . en-US.
  60. News: Pubby . Manu . 2024-08-10 . Technical, price bids submitted in fighter jet engine deal with US . 2024-08-12 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.