HAL is tapping new business opportunities for Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as well as servicing of Su-30 aircraft and Hawk trainer aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
HAL is working on a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission chopper of about 13-tonne weightage, termed the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), with more endurance than Mi-17s.
On the air show’s last day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says India plans to move from $11 bn defence base to $25 bn by 2025, with a $5 bn export component.
It was in 1983 when India rolled out the project to build a new light combat aircraft as a replacement for Russian MiG 21s, which continue to fly despite being obsolete.
The company is betting on the IAF to place a multi-billion dollar order for an advanced version of the indigenously produced LCA Tejas before the financial year ends.
Tejas is among the contenders as Malaysia looks to issue request for proposal for its new 36-jet contract next year. But diplomatic ties could hurt the deal.
As Narendra Modi becomes India’s second-longest consecutively serving Prime Minister, we look at how he compares with Indira Gandhi across four key dimensions.
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