Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open a greenfield helicopter production facility of the state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Tumakuru, Karnataka, on Monday. The plant will initially build light utility helicopters (LUHs).
Details about PM Modi will open India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility in Karnataka
The defence ministry described the 615-acre complex as India’s largest helicopter-manufacturing facility, and it was intended to be a one-stop shop for the country’s helicopter needs.
According to officials, HAL expects to construct more than 1,000 helicopters weighing three to fifteen tonnes over a 20-year span, with a total business of more than Rs 4 lakh crore.
Other helicopters, including as light combat helicopters (LCHs) and Indian multirole helicopters, will be manufactured at the plant (IMRHs). In the future, it will also be utilised for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of LCHs, LUHs, civil advanced light helicopters (ALHs), and IMRHs, according to officials.
Potential civil light utility helicopter exports would also be handled by the Tumakuru factory, which is about 70 kilometres from Bengaluru.
“In yet another stride towards ‘Aatmanirbharta’ at defence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the country on February 6 a helicopter plant of HAL in Tumakuru, Karnataka,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
The ceremony will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other ministry officials.
The prime minister lay the facility’s foundation stone in 2016.
According to the government, the facility was designed to be a one-stop shop for all of the country’s helicopter needs.
“It will initially produce LUHs and is India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility,” it claimed.
The LUH is a three-tonne class, single-engine multifunctional utility helicopter that was conceived and developed in-house. It has unique features such as excellent manoeuvrability.
The plant in Tumakuru would initially build roughly 30 helicopters per year, with the capacity gradually increasing to 60 and finally 90 per year, according to officials.
They further stated that the first LUH has been flight-tested and is ready for public display.
“Aside from creating direct and indirect jobs, the Tumakuru facility will contribute to the development of the surrounding area through CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives, including large-scale community-centric programmes on which the corporation will invest significant funds. All of this will improve the lives of the people in the region “According to the ministry.
It stated that the factory’s closeness to current HAL facilities in Bengaluru will strengthen the region’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and assist talent and infrastructure development.
“The plant is completely operational with the establishment of facilities such as heli-runway, flight hangar, final assembly hangar, structure assembly hangar, air traffic control, and different supporting service facilities,” the ministry stated.
It further stated that the factory will be outfitted with cutting-edge “Industry 4.0 standard tools and processes” for its operations.
