HAL’s IMRH Helicopter Project Set for Major Push With ₹13,500 Crore Development Plan

India’s plans to build a new generation of indigenous military helicopters are moving into a crucial phase, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) preparing to take its Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) programme forward with a proposed investment of around ₹13,500 crore.

The proposed design and development funding is awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Once approved, the programme would gain the financial and institutional backing needed to progress towards detailed engineering, prototype development and flight testing.

The IMRH is being designed as a 13-tonne, twin-engine helicopter capable of performing a broad range of military and humanitarian missions. Its planned roles include transporting troops and equipment, supporting logistics operations, carrying out disaster-relief missions and providing mobility to forces operating in difficult terrain.

For India’s military aviation sector, the programme has particular importance because it aims to create a domestic alternative in the medium-lift helicopter segment. The armed forces currently rely heavily on the Mi-17 family for this category of operations, making the development of an indigenous successor strategically important for long-term fleet modernisation.

HAL is not developing the programme as an isolated helicopter project. A naval version, known as the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH), is also being pursued for the Indian Navy. The naval platform will require modifications to enable regular operations from warships, including features suited to limited deck space and the harsh maritime environment.

Propulsion is another major part of the programme. HAL and Safran are working together through the SAFHAL joint venture on the Aravalli turboshaft engine, which is planned for the IMRH and DBMRH. The engine is being developed in the 3,500–4,000 shaft-horsepower category and is expected to become a critical component of India’s future medium-lift rotorcraft capability.

The development of the Aravalli engine could prove particularly significant because engine technology has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas for countries seeking to establish an independent aerospace industry. An indigenous powerplant would give India greater control over production, maintenance and future upgrades while supporting the wider domestic helicopter ecosystem.

The IMRH programme is expected to progress through a demanding sequence of design, prototype construction, ground evaluation, flight trials and certification. Current plans cited in the reference report point towards prototype development in the latter part of the decade, followed by flight testing and certification in the early 2030s. Actual timelines will depend on government approval, engineering progress and the outcome of testing.

The project could also have a wider impact on India’s defence manufacturing sector. Developing the IMRH will require expertise in airframe design, avionics, transmission systems, rotor technology, flight-control systems, materials and propulsion. This could create additional opportunities for Indian private-sector companies and suppliers to participate in the military aerospace supply chain.

For the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, the arrival of a domestically developed medium-lift helicopter would offer a platform designed around the country’s specific operational requirements. For the Navy, the DBMRH could eventually provide a locally developed solution for shipborne helicopter operations.

With the ₹13,500 crore development proposal moving towards a key government decision, the IMRH programme is approaching a defining stage. Approval from the CCS would allow HAL to accelerate work on a project that could eventually become one of the most important pillars of India’s future rotary-wing military capability.

The success of the programme will ultimately depend on HAL’s ability to meet demanding performance, reliability and certification requirements. However, the progress of the IMRH and its associated Aravalli engine programme signals India’s growing ambition to move beyond assembling or importing helicopters and develop complete indigenous rotorcraft capabilities from design to production and lifecycle support.