BENGALURU: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), two of the country’s top defence PSU’s, on Monday announced a record-making turnover of more than Rs 10,000 crore. For HAL, 2017-18 saw a turnover of over Rs 18,000 crore (provisional and unaudited), which is above last years figure of Rs 17,605 crore.
BEL also announced that it had crossed the landmark turnover of more than Rs 10,000 crore (provisional and unaudited), up from Rs 8,825 crore for the previous year. “HAL has continued to emphasise on self-reliance towards development of indigenous products, diversification into civil segment, enhancement of capacity, support development of defence manufacturing eco-system by developing domestic vendors including MSME’s and enhance outsourcing,” said HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju.
In 2017-18, the company produced 40 new aircraft/helicopters and 105 new engines. HAL also carried out an overhaul of 220 aircraft/helicopter and 550 engines. An order for 41 ALH choppers and 8 Chetak choppers was placed by the Indian armed forces.
“The company also received Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) certificate for its Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Certificate of Airworthiness for its civil variant Dornier Do-228 from DGCA, acceptance of Mirage 2000 upgrade by Air HQ after its Final Operational Clearance and carried out the first successful run of Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine -1200, and successfully test fired the BrahMos missile from Su-30 MKI,” a statement from HAL said.
In a statement, BEL Chairman and Managing Director Gowtama M V said, “The focus on indigenisation for self-reliance has continued with more vigour. BEL has been able to maintain good order acquisition this year. Some of the major projects executed this year include the Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS), Weapon Locating Radar (WLR), Hand Held Thermal Imager (HHTI) and Akash Weapon System (Army).”