Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

The Indian government has approved the purchase of 240 locally assembled Al-31FP engines from Hindustan Aeronautics to power its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters.

The companies signed the Aug. 30 deal in India that is intended to create a new engine, called Aravalli.

The OEM plans to establish a new MRO facility for Rafale and Mirage 2000 aircraft at Delhi Noida International Airport/Jewar International Airport.

According to local reports, IAI is exploring a potential passenger-to-freighter partnership while considering engine MRO in India.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The “successful” sortie of the first Tejas Mk1A, bearing company serial number LA-5033, lasted 18 min. and was flown by chief test pilot KK Venugpal.

As the U.S. Army prepares for high-speed rotorcraft, the commercial helicopter industry continues its wait for advanced new technologies.

Al Tariq, a joint venture between Edge and South Africa’s Denel, launched the studies in February.

Crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft teaming on real combat missions is not likely to be realized for up to two decades, a top Indian Air Force official says.

The agreement, announced on Thursday (Nov. 9), is part of Airbus’ strategy to support Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) growing its footprint in commercial aircraft MRO in India.

As a part of the deal, HAL will produce CFM Leap engine parts for Safran Aircraft Engines Bangalore facilities.

Changes to India’s military procurement process would have implications for the broader world combat aircraft market.

India has carried out the first live firing of the indigenously developed Astra air-to-air missile from its HAL Tejas fighter.

The agreement appears to be a first step in negotiations to acquire a replacement for the Argentine army’s aging fleet of mainly Bell UH-1s.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Dhruv helicopter has become the first Indian-designed and developed rotorcraft to secure certification from the EASA.

A joint statement hailed the agreement as a “trailblazing initiative that would “enable greater transfer of U.S. jet engine technology than ever before.”

An oversupply of helicopters and what Safan Helicopter Engines chief Franck Saudo calls a “capacity overhang” has been largely eliminated, he says.

Aero India highlights India’s ambition to move beyond simple assembly to creating advanced, exportable aircraft design.

The Indian Defense Research and Development Organization has devised an automated landing system that is being put to the test on two N-LCA platforms.

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. could eventually be awarded the project to manufacture Naval Utility Helicopters.

India will receive 275 trainers and LCAs over the next decade, more than any other nation aside from the U.S.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week