Indian PM Modi to Inaugurate HAL's New Helicopter Factory on February 6

An all-new helicopter factory of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be inaugurated by Indian PM Narendra Modi in Tumakuru, near Bangalore on February 06.

This factory will initially produce around 30 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) per year which will be enhanced to 60 and then 90 per year. The first LUH has been flight tested and is ready for unveiling, an official release said.

The factory will be augmented to produce other helicopters such as Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) and Indian Multirole Helicopters (IMRHs). It will also be used for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul of LCH, LUH, Civil Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and IMRH in the future.

Having facilities such as Heli-Runway, Flight Hangar, Final Assembly Hangar, Structure Assembly Hangar, Air Traffic Control and various supporting service facilities, the factory is fully operational. This factory is being equipped with state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 standard tools and techniques for its operations.

Spread across 615 acres, the factory is India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility and will initially produce HAL's Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs) which is a 3-ton class, single engine multipurpose utility helicopter.
Potential exports of civil LUH will also be catered to from this factory.

HAL plans to produce more than 1,000 helicopters in the range of 3-15 tonnes over a period of 20 years in the factory. The proximity of the factory, with the existing HAL facilities in Bengaluru, will boost the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in the region.
The foundation stone of the facility was laid by the Prime Minister in 2016. This factory will enable India to meet its entire requirement of helicopters without import.