Global partners to design HAL commercial aircraft

Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will scout for global partners to design and manufacture a passenger aircraft on a risk-reward model to cater to the burgeoning domestic market for such regional jets, T. Suvarna Raju, chairman and managing director, said on Wednesday.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 7,000 crore for three prototypes and certification. “There will be a requirement for around 200 such commercial aircraft (60-80 seat capacity) in India in the next five years. We are looking to the government for support and have submitted a proposal. We will work with a consortium of partners,” he said here on a day when the aerospace behemoth celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Mr Raju said HAL could float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for design and manufacture of such regional jets as the rules for selection of partners would be flexible. “If we want to make it a ‘Brand India’ project, then it will require enormous amount of support from the government,” he added.

HAL and National Aerospace Laboratories had jointly planned a special purpose vehicle for a civilian plane - regional transport aircraft RTA-70 - but the move was shelved because of issues about funds.

Mr Raju said HAL would double the production capacity ‘Tejas’ fighter jets from eight to 16 aircraft a year in anticipation of an order from the Indian Air Force for 108 military jets. This would cost HAL Rs 2,100 crore, half of which would be borne by HAL, while the IAF and Navy would contribute 25 per cent each, he added.