Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Helicopter Factory and unveiled the Light Utility Helicopter in Tumakuru, Karnataka, on Monday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also attended the event. It is a dedicated new greenfield helicopter facility that will increase the capacity and ecosystem for helicopter production.
This helicopter manufacturing plant, Asia’s largest, will first produce Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). According to the government, the LUH is an indigenously built and developed 3-ton class, single-engine multifunctional utility helicopter with the distinctive trait of great maneuverability.
In the future, the plant will be extended to build more helicopters such as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and the Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH), as well as maintenance and overhaul of the LCH, LUH, Civil ALH, and IMRH. In the future, the manufacturer may be able to export Civil LUHs.
This facility will allow India to satisfy its complete helicopter need domestically, earning the distinction of allowing self-reliance in helicopter design, development, and manufacturing in India.
The plant will have an Industry 4.0 production setup. HAL intends to construct around 1000 helicopters weighing 3-15 tonnes at Tumakuru during the next 20 years. This will provide work for over 6000 people in the region.
