Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bengaluru. Established on 23 December 1940 by Walchand Hirachand, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the world.<ref name="HAL-Our History">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="HAL-Our History"/> HAL currently has 11 dedicated Research and development (R&D) centres and 21 manufacturing divisions under 4 production units spread across India.<ref name="HAL-Our History"/> HAL is managed by a board of directors appointed by the President of India through the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, the company was given Maharatna status.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> HAL is currently involved in the designing and manufacturing of fighter jets, helicopters, jet engine and marine gas turbine engine, avionics, hardware development, spares supply, overhauling and upgrading of Indian military aircraft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

History

Workers check new fuel tanks during World War II

HAL was established as Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Bangalore (now called Bengaluru) on 23 December 1940 by Walchand Hirachand in association with Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar of Kingdom of Mysore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was formed on 1 October 1964 (the Registrar of Companies has a registration date of 16 August 1963)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web Flight International 1964</ref> 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, the company started manufacturing Bristol Siddeley Orpheus jet engines under licence at new factory located in Bengaluru.

Production line of the HAL Dhruv at Bengaluru

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.<ref>Template:Cite web The Hindu Business Line, 3 March 2012.</ref> 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.

Light Combat Helicopter induction into the Indian Army

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 upgrades of almost the entire fighter fleet of the 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> LCH production will now take place in a newly built Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in HAL Complex.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In view of the 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2024, HAL was given Maharatna status, which allows the company to have more operational and financial autonomy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2025, HAL invited private Indian companies to enter into a joint venture for the production of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, in which HAL would hold a 50% stake and four private companies would each hold a 12.5% stake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2025, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) transferred the technology of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle to HAL, which was the first time ISRO transferred the entire technology of a rocket to a single company, for which HAL paid Template:INRConvert to ISRO.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also in June 2025, HAL and Safran Aircraft Engines (SAE), a French aircraft engine manufacturing company, signed an agreement for HAL to manufacture rotating parts for SAE's LEAP engines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aero Engine Research and Development Centre

On 29 December 2023, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane opened a new design and testing facility at the HAL Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) in Bengaluru. AERDC is involved in the development,testing and commercialisation of HAL's line of in-house aero-engines.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Operations

Template:Expand section One of the largest aerospace companies in Asia, HAL has annual turnover of over Template:USD3 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

HAL Dhruv helicopters of the Ecuadorian Air Force in 2009 Aero India

An IAF BAe Hawk being licence-produced at the HAL Hawk production facility in Bengaluru

• US$1 billion contract to manufacture aircraft parts for Boeing.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
• 120 RD-33MK turbofan engines to be manufactured for MiG-29K by HAL for US$250 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Contract to manufacture 1,000 Honeywell TPE331 aircraft engines for Honeywell worth US$200,000 each (estimates put total value of deal at US$200 million).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• US$120 million deal to manufacture Dornier 228 for RUAG of Switzerland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Manufacture of aircraft parts for Airbus SAS worth US$150 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• US$100 million contract to export composite materials to Israel Aerospace Industries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• US$65 million joint-research facility with Honeywell and planned production of Honeywell TPE331 engines.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
• US$50.7 million contract to supply Advanced Light Helicopter to Ecuadorian Air Force.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> HAL will also open a maintenance base in the country.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• US$30 million contract to supply avionics for Malaysian Su-30MKM.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
• US$20 million contract to supply ambulance version of HAL Dhruv to Peru.
• Contract of 3 HAL Dhruv helicopters for Turkey worth US$20 million.
• US$10 million order from Namibia for HAL Chetak and Cheetah helicopters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Supply of HAL Dhruv helicopters to Mauritius' National Police in a deal worth US$7 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Unmanned helicopter development project with Israel Aerospace Industries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• US$15 million contract for supplying steel and nickel alloy forgings to GE Aviation for its global military and commercial engine programmes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Domestic agreements

• 221 Sukhoi Su-30MKI being manufactured at HAL's facilities in Nasik, Koraput and Bengaluru. The total contract, which also involves Russia's Sukhoi Aerospace, is worth Template:USD3.2 billion.
• 200 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for the Indian Air Force and 500 HAL Dhruv helicopters worth US$5.83 billion.
• US$900 million aerospace hub in Shamshabad, Telangana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• US$57 million upgrade of SEPECAT Jaguar fleet of the Indian Air Force.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• US$55 million helicopter simulator training facility in Bengaluru in collaboration with Canada's CAE.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 64 MiG-29s to be upgraded by HAL and Russia's MiG Corporation in a programme worth US$960 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Licensed production of 82 BAE Hawk 132.

Products

Indigenous products

HAL Tejas

Over the years, HAL has designed and developed several platforms like the HF-24 Marut,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Dhruv,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the LUH,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the LCH.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Agricultural aircraft

• HA-31 Basant (1972–1980) (out of production)

Fighter aircraft

HF-24 Marut

• HAL HF-24 Marut — (retired) Mk.1 and Mk.1T (200+ built)
• MBB/HAL HF-73 — (cancelled)
• HAL Tejas — (in service) 4.5 generation light combat aircraft (LCA)
• HAL Tejas MK2<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> — 4.5+ generation Medium weight fighter (under development) 2025 first flight expected.
• HAL TEDBF — Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter is 4.5+ generation fighter for Indian Navy's aircraft carriers (under development).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> HAL ORCA version for IAF planned.
• Sukhoi/HAL FGFA — (cancelled) 5th generation fighter based on Sukhoi SU-57
• AMCA (consultancy only)
  • Mk.1: 5th generation stealth fighter (under development)
  • Mk.2: 5.5th generation stealth fighter ( it will operate in CATS {combat air teaming system}, a UCAV in the swarm will be equipped with a directed-energy weapon) (planned).

Trainer aircraft

HAL HTT-40 Basic training aircraft

Hindustan HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate jet trainer

• HT-2 — (1951–1990) First company design to enter production. Exported to Ghana. (retired)
• HAL-26 Pushpak — (1958 to ~1960s) Basic trainer, based on Aeronca Chief. (out of production)
• HJT-16 Kiran — (1964–1989) (in service) Mk1, Mk1A and Mk2 - Turbojet trainers scheduled to be replaced with HJT-36 Yashas<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• HPT-32 Deepak —(1984–2009) (retired) Basic trainer that was in service for more than three decades.
• HTT-34 — (retired) Turboprop version of HPT-32 Deepak
• HTT-35 (cancelled) — Proposed replacement for HPT-32 basic trainer in the early 1990s; not pursued
• HJT-36 Yashas — Intermediate jet trainer (under development)
• HJT 39 / CAT — Advanced jet trainer, developed into HLFT-42 (cancelled)
• HTT-40 — Basic trainer (in production)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> first prototype flew its first flight on 31 May 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• HLFT-42 — Proposed lead-in fighter trainer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Passenger, transport and utility aircraft

Saras, under joint development with National Aerospace Laboratories

• Saras — of 14-19 seater capacity multi-purpose civilian light transport aircraft jointly developed with NAL.
• Indian Regional Jet (IRJ) — (under development) of 70-100 seater capacity regional airliner to be jointly developed with NAL.

Helicopters

HAL Dhruv of Indian Navy

Formation flight of three HAL Rudras of Indian Air Force

HAL Prachand of No. 143 Helicopter Unit, IAF.

• Dhruv — (in production) Advanced light helicopter
• Rudra — (in production) Armed and reconnaissance version of Dhruv
• Prachand — (in production) Light attack helicopter
• Light Utility Helicopter — (in limited series production) Light utility helicopter
• Indian Multi Role Helicopter — (under development) medium multi-role helicopter. Includes naval version.

Observation and reconnaissance aircraft

• HAOP-27 Krishak (1959 to ~1975) (retired)— Based on HAL-26 Pushpak

Unmanned aerial vehicles

• PTA Lakshya — (Target drone)
• PTA Lakshya 2 — (Target drone)
• Rustom — UAV family
  • Rustom-1 — Short Range UAV TD
  • Archer — Short Range UAV
  • SRUAV-W — Short Range UCAV
  • Archer-NG
  • Rustom-H — MALE UAV TD
  • TAPAS-BH-201 — MALE UAV
• Nishant — Reconnaissance UAV
• NRUAV — Unmanned rotorcraft
• HAL Combat Air Teaming System (CATS)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • CATS Mothership for Air teaming Exploitation (MAX) — based on Tejas Mark 1A or SEPECAT Jaguar
  • CATS Warrior
  • CATS Air Launched Flexible Assets (ALFA) — Unmanned carrier and launcher of weaponized swarm drone ALPHA-S.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • CATS Hunter — Modular multi-purpose weapon carrying system
  • CATS Infinity — High altitude solar powered atmospheric satellite<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Gliders

• G-1 — HAL's first original design, dating from 1941. Only one was built.
• RG-1 Rohini
• Ardhra — training glider

Engines

GTX-35VS Kaveri prototype testing

Cryogenic Rocket Engine

CE-20 cryogenic rocket engine. It is the most powerful upper-stage Cryogenic engine operational today.

• CE-7.5 — cryogenic rocket engine (in production, used on GSLV Mk.II Cryogenic upper stage CUS15)
• CE-20 — cryogenic rocket engine<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (in production, used on C25 upperstage of LVM-3)

Turboshaft Engine

• Shakti — a turboshaft engine for HAL Dhruv Helicopter, co-developed with Safran Helicopter Engines based on Safran Ardiden 1 ( in production and used on LUH, Dhruv, Rudra, Prachand )
• Aravalli—a turboshaft engine for the HAL IMRH and HAL DBMRH. Co-produced with SAFHAL, a joint venture with Safran Helicopter Engines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (under development)
• HTSE-1200 — a turboshaft engine can be used as engine alternatives for the HAL-developed LUH, Dhruv, Rudra and Prachand helicopters<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (under development)

Turbojet Engine

HAL HJE-2500 Engine at HAL Museum. Built in 1965, it was the first turbojet engine built by HAL

• Hindustan Jet Engine (HJE-2500) (retired)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• PTAE-7 — (in service) For indigenously designed Lakshya PTA

Turbofan Engine

• GTX-35VS Kaveri — a turbofan engine can be used in HAL-developed Tejas and AMCA, co-developed with GTRE of (DRDO) and Safran Aircraft Engines (under development)
• HTFE-25 — a turbofan engine can be used in single engine trainer jets, business jets and UAVs weighing up to 5 tonnes and in twin engine configuration for same weighing up to 9 tonnes<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (under development)

Rockets

• SSLV (Active): Technolgy Transfer from ISRO. To be built in partnership with L&T.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Licensed production

Fighter aircraft

HAL made Su-30MKI

HAL made Jaguar

• De Havilland Vampire — (retired) first combat jet manufactured by HAL, 250+ FB.52, 60 T.55 models<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Folland Gnat — (retired) Over 175 manufactured by HAL.
  • HAL Ajeet —(retired) improved version of the Folland Gnat, 89 manufactured by HAL
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 —(retired) FL, M, Bis and UPG upgrades variants 660 manufactured in Aircraft Manufacturing Division, Nasik
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 —(retired) A total of 150 ML variant were manufactured in Aircraft Manufacturing Division, Nasik
• SEPECAT Jaguar — (Out of production) IS, IB and IM variants (89 IS, 27 IB and 12 IM variants built)
• Sukhoi Su-30MKI — (In Service) a derivative of the Sukhoi Su-30 (272 delivered, 12 on order). Manufactured in Aircraft Manufacturing Division, Nasik

Trainer aircraft

• Harlow PC-5 — first aircraft assembled by HAL
• Percival Prentice — 66 built by HAL
• BAE Hawk Mk 132 — The type and its engines are produced under license; proposed to be developed into Hawk-i fighter - trainer aircraft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Passenger, transport and utility aircraft

• HS 748 Avro — (being retired) modified for military usage, includes Series 2M variant with large freight door. Produced at Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur.
• Dornier 228 — (under production) 117 built with additional fuselage, wings and tail unit for production of the upgraded Dornier 228 NG variant. Sometimes referred to as HAL 228. Several variants including Maritime Surveillance and Utility version under production in at Transport Aircraft Division.

Helicopters

• Aerospatiale SA 315B Lama — HAL Cheetah, Lancer, Cheetal Variants
• Aerospatiale SA 316B Alouette III — HAL Chetak, Chetan Variants

Engines

Turbofan Engines

• Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 811 — Engine for SEPECAT Jaguar, produced under licence in Engine Division Bangalore
• Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 871 — Engine for BAE Hawk Mk 132, produced under licence in Engine Division Bangalore
• Garrett TPE331-5 — Engine for Dornier 228, produced under licence in Engine Division Bangalore
• Saturn AL-31FP — Engine for Sukhoi Su-30MKI, produced under licence in Sukhoi Engine Division Koraput
• Klimov RD-33MK — Engine for Mikoyan MiG-29, produced under licence in Engine Division Koraput
• Tumansky R-25 — Engine for Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, produced under licence in Engine Division Koraput
• F414-GE-INS6 — Engine for HAL Tejas Mk2, HAL TEDBF and HAL AMCA Mk1, negotiations for licensed production underway. Production in new facility in Bangalore.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Turboshaft Engine

• Turbomeca TM 333 — Engine for HAL Dhruv Mk 1/2 and HAL Cheetal, produced under licence in Engine Division Bangalore

Notable people

• Kota Harinarayana (b. 1943), president of the Aeronautical Society of India and chief designer of HAL Tejas
• Kurt Tank (1898–1983), German aeronautical engineer, designed Hindustan Marut fighter-bomber
• Roddam Narasimha (1933–2020), aerospace scientist and fluid dynamicist
• Vishnu Madav Ghatage (1908–1991), one of the pioneers of Indian aeronautics

See also

• HAL Aerospace Museum
• Pragati Aerospace Museum
• Defence Research and Development Organisation
• HAL Airport
• Indian Space Research Organisation
• Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC
• National Aerospace Laboratories
• Mahindra Aerospace
• Tata Advanced Systems
• Aeronautical Development Agency
• HAL SC

External links

• Template:Official website
• Ready to roll: HAL offers its light combat helicopter to Indian Air Force