The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is set to complete the execution of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A by February 2024. The state-owned aerospace and defense company, which is trading in the green on the NSE with a 0.65% increase, is confident in its ability to deliver the first aircraft within the expected timeframe, according to the HAL Chairman and Managing Director, CB Ananthakrishnan.
“The execution timeframe is starting from February 2024. We are confident that we will be able to deliver the first aircraft in Feb 2024,” CB Ananthakrishnan told ANI.
The LCA Mark 1A is the most advanced variant of the aircraft and is equipped with a range of advanced features such as AESA radar, a digital map generator, and advanced radio altimeter, among others. The variant will be equipped with an electronic warfare suite, including radar warning and self-protection jamming, as well as combined interrogator and transponder technology.
In addition to the LCA Mark 1A, the sanction for the LCA Mark II has already been granted and HAL and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) hope to roll out the first of these aircrafts by 2024-25.
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“Sanction for LCA Mark II has already come. We hope DRDO and HAL together will be able to roll out the first LCA Mark II somewhere in 2024-25,” the HAL CMD said.
Ananthakrishnan also spoke about the recently-inaugurated helicopter factory in Tumakuru, India, which has a capacity to manufacture 30 helicopters per annum. The facility will be ramped up to manufacture 60 helicopters per year and has the potential to produce up to 90 helicopters at peak load. The facility, which is India's largest helicopter manufacturing facility, will not only cater to the domestic demand but also to foreign countries.
HAL's order book position stands at around INR 84,000 crore and the company has been generating revenues of INR 25,000 crore, with a growth rate of 8%. The company has a comfortable order book position and has sufficient contracts to execute. The helicopter manufacturing facility in Tumakuru was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 6. The facility will initially produce light utility helicopters.
