French defense major Safran and state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are in talks to jointly and indigenously build a new engine that will power India’s plans to have its own medium-weight military helicopters.
These new rotary aircraft will replace the Russian Mi-17 transport helicopters in the coming years. There is also a possibility of a new combat helicopter in the same class as the American Apache.
The engines would be manufactured to power various types of medium-weight helicopters that HAL is working on to meet the demand of the Air Force, Navy and Army.
In a program organized by industry body FICCI on Saturday, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had said that during your conversation Last week with his French counterpart Florence Parly, the engines were discussed.
The thrust of their negotiations was to ask French defense firms to either cooperate with Indian companies or to produce only in India.
It is related to the engine of the helicopter and HAL, the Indian company that has a strategic partnership with Safran.
HAL currently manufactures LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) and multi-role ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter), in addition to Chetak helicopters.
Incidentally, both ALH and LCH are powered by Ardiden 1H1 Shakti, co-developed by HAL and Safran.
It is licensed to be manufactured by HAL, but the new engine would be built under a strategic partnership, which would involve transfer of technology.
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