Safran and HAL to design and produce next-generation helicopter engines in India

Safran Helicopter Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are partnering to create a new joint venture company in Bangalore, which will be the first in India to design and manufacture helicopter engines.

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The new company will be dedicated to the design, development, production, sales and support of helicopter engines, with the primary objective of building the most suitable propulsion solution for the Indian Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) future 13-ton IMRH (Indian Multi-Role Helicopter) and its naval version DBMRH (Deck Based Multi-Role Helicopter).

This decision was achieved thanks to a dynamic common work cycle between the two companies,  following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 8th July 2022 and an agreement on workshare reached between the two partners during Aero India 2023.

The collaboration the Indian and French Aerospace majors is clearly supporting the development of the aerospace strategic roadmap between the two countries while once again endorsing the Indian Government’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-sufficient India )- particularly in defence technologies.

Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL already have multiple successful partnerships on helicopter powerplants, including the Shakti engine, which powers HAL-produced helicopters, comprising the Dhruv, Rudra and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH Prachand). More than 500 Shakti engines have already been produced. The new joint venture further extends the sphere of current cooperation and explores opportunities for strategic business collaboration that leverage the complementary talents and capabilities of the two aviation firms.

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Through HE-MRO joint venture in Goa, Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL will also provide MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services for TM333 and Shakti engines in the service of Indian Armed Forces.