Safran And HAL Collaborate To Revolutionize Helicopter Engines In India

Safran Helicopter Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have announced that they will work together to set up a joint venture company in Bangalore, India.

This partnership wants to “revolutionize” the design, development, production, sales, and support of helicopter engines, with the main goal of making improved propulsion solutions for the future multi-role helicopters of the Indian Ministry of Defense.

By working together, Safran and HAL will try to change India’s aerospace business and help the country reach its goal of being self-sufficient in defense technologies. Setting up this joint company is a big step in Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL’s long-term partnership.

After signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2022 and talking about how to share work during Aero India 2023, the two companies have set up a dynamic work cycle that makes it possible for India to build and make its first engine on its own.

CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines Mr. Cedric Goubet said, “We are really excited to work with HAL and India to create this new turboshaft engine joint venture, which will serve the Indian market and provide future export possibilities.

This is a turning point in our long-term relationship with HAL, and it shows that ties between India and France are getting stronger. Together, we are dedicated to designing and making new-generation, high-performance helicopter engines while putting the satisfaction of our customers in India first.

The CMD of HAL, Mr. C.B. Ananthkrishnan, also gave his opinion: “Safran Helicopter Engines has been a valuable partner of ours for many years. We are starting a new journey by combining HAL’s many years of experience making different types of aircraft and helicopter engines with Safran Helicopter Engines’ knowledge of how to create turboshaft engines.

Our goal is to co-develop and co-produce turboshaft engines in India, with an urgent focus on the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH). This partnership will bring together and make the most of the Indian defense industry ecosystem. This will help our honorable prime minister’s dream of an independent India come true.

“The Global Military Rotorcraft Market 2023-2033” says that between 2023 and 2033, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will get 11.7% of the market in Asia-Pacific and make $9.2 billion.

Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL have already worked together to make great helicopter engines. For example, HAL’s Dhruv, Rudra, and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH Prachand) are all powered by the famous Shakti engine. Since more than 500 Shakti engines have already been made, the new joint company gives them more ways to work together.

With the LCH Prachand, India was able to design, develop, and make a modern combat helicopter. About 45% of the value of the helicopter’s parts were made in India, and that number will rise to more than 55% in the series production version, according to the “India Defence Market 2023-2028”.

Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL will also offer full maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for TM333 and Shakti engines in use by the Indian Armed Forces through the HE-MRO joint company based in Goa. This makes sure that these assets last as long as possible and work at their best, which improves the tactical readiness of the defense fleet.