HAL and Safran start joint venture for helicopter engines

The partners will establish a new aero-engine company in India, dedicated to the development, production, sales and support of helicopter engines and one of its main objectives will be to meet the requirements of HAL and Ministry of Defence’s future helicopters, including the 13-ton IMRH (Indian Multi-Role Helicopter).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) securing the agreement was signed by R Madhavan, Chief Managing Director at HAL, and Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines, in the presence of Olivier Andriès, Safran’s CEO.

The new agreement builds on the success of previous collaborations

HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines have already multiple partnerships, including the Shakti engine, which powers HAL-produced helicopters, including the Dhruv, Rudra and the Light Combat Helicopter. The Ardiden 1U variant also powers the new Light Utility Helicopter. More than 500 Shakti engines have already been produced.

Madhavan said: “Safran Helicopter Engines has been our valued partner for several decades. We now look forward to utilize this opportunity to leverage HAL’s experience in manufacturing of more than 15 types of aircraft and helicopter engines to jointly co-develop and manufacture engine with immediate focus on IMRH and its naval variant the Deck-Based Multi Role Helicopter.”

Saudo added: “The creation of this new joint venture marks a turning point in our relationship with HAL and the Indian MoD with the development and production of a new generation of helicopter engine. We are proud to further expand our structuring partnership with HAL, which began more than 50 years ago, and which was recently illustrated with the development and production of the Shakti engine and the inauguration of our joint venture Helicopter Engines MRO.”