Hindustan Aeronautics and Safran launch JV for helicopter engines

HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines already have multiple partnerships, including the Shakti engine, which powers HAL-produced helicopters, including the Dhruv, Rudra and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

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Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on November 10 said it has incorporated a joint venture (JV) with France-based Safran Helicopter Engines under the name "Safhal Helicopter Engines Pvt Ltd".

According to a statement from HAL, the JV will design, develop, certify, produce, sell and support helicopter engines.

The first opportunities identified are engines for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH). In July, HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines signed an agreement to create a new joint venture. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by R Madhavan, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL and Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines.

“Safran Helicopter Engines has been our valued partner for several decades. We now look forward to utilise this opportunity to leverage HAL’s experience in manufacturing more than 15 types of aircraft and helicopter engines to jointly co-develop and manufacture engines with an immediate focus on IMRH and its naval variant the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH). This partnership will involve and utilise the Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem within India,” Madhavan said.

Safran-HAL Aircraft Engines facility is a 50/50 joint venture between French aerospace company Safran Aircraft Engines and state-owned defence PSU HAL. It was inaugurated in a Special Economic Zone near the Kempegowda International Airport in July last year. The plant manufactures complex piping mostly for the LEAP engine.

Last month, the two companies announced that they would jointly develop industrial cooperation in manufacturing ring forgings for commercial aircraft engines. These products, which HAL and Safran will jointly produce in Bengaluru, will power the Airbus A320 Neo family and the Boeing 737 Max single-aisle airliners, according to a Business Standard report.

HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines already have multiple partnerships, including the Shakti engine, which powers HAL-produced helicopters, including the Dhruv, Rudra and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). Over 500 Shakti engines have already been produced.

Safran has been operating in India for 65 years and has 10 facilities and 750 employees nationwide.