India Boosts Defence with ₹26,000 Crore HAL Contract for Su-30MKI Engines

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a significant contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) worth over ₹26,000 crore for 240 AL-31FP aero engines for Su-30MKI aircraft. This investment aims to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force and promote indigenous defence manufacturing.

In a significant stride towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has entered a ₹26,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 240 AL-31FP aero engines for Su-30MKI aircraft. Officials from MoD and HAL signed the agreement on September 9, 2024, in New Delhi, with Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in attendance.

The engines will be produced by HAL's Koraput Division, meeting the Indian Air Force's requirements to sustain the Su-30 fleet's operational capability. HAL is set to deliver 30 engines annually, completing all 240 units over the next eight years. This initiative will also leverage the country's defence manufacturing ecosystem, involving MSMEs and other industries, boosting indigenous content in maintenance tasks.

The government's heavy investment in defence and aerospace manufacturing is part of a broader strategy, setting ambitious targets such as achieving ₹175,000 crore in indigenous defence manufacturing and ₹35,000 crore in exports by 2024-25. Defence PSUs have reported high returns on equities, thanks to new orders. Notably, India's defence exports surged to ₹21,083 crore in 2023-24, significantly up from ₹15,920 crore the previous year, growing 31 times in a decade.

(With inputs from agencies.)