On January 17, 2022, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Government of Mauritius signed a contract for the shipment of one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III and related deliverables. The entire contract is worth USD 17.670 million (around Rs 141.52 crore). According to the contract, delivery had to be finished within 18 months, however HAL did it earlier than expected.
With its facility in Bengaluru, HAL has a sufficient amount of infrastructure, skilled labour, and a well-established ecosystem to carry out export orders in a timely way. The HAL Helicopter Factory, a new facility in Tumkur, Karnataka, has also increased HAL’s infrastructure capacity.
Domestically produced defence goods, including platforms and systems from HAL, are being promoted through lines of credit and funding, subject to strategic considerations. Together with HAL platforms and systems, the Indian government grants friendly foreign countries (FFCs) access to locally produced platforms and systems. Defense Attaches have been instructed to provide assistance to HAL and other Indian defence firms as they carry out their contracts with the government. Financial assistance is also given to Defense Attaches to promote homegrown defence systems.
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt provided this information in a written reply to Shri M Shanmugam in the Rajya Sabha today.
