Bodies of Dhruv helicopters to be made in Allahabad
ALLAHABAD : Naini Aerospace Limited (NAeL), a wholly owned subsidiary of HAL, is gearing up to manufacture bodies of Dhruv helicopters and looms or wiring harness for multirole light fighter, Tejas. “The bodies for the Dhruv were so far being produced by the helicopter division of the Bengaluru headquartered HAL. These would now be manufactured in Allahabad as well,” said HAL, chairman, T Suvarna Raju.
ALLAHABAD:Naini Aerospace Limited (NAeL), a wholly owned subsidiary of HAL, is gearing up to manufacture bodies of Dhruv helicopters and looms or wiring harness for multirole light fighter, Tejas, said an official.
“The bodies for the Dhruv were so far being produced by the helicopter division of the Bengaluru headquartered HAL. These would now be manufactured in Allahabad as well,” said HAL, chairman, T Suvarna Raju.
Raju said, “In the initial stage we are making spare parts for light combat aircraft and Dhruv advance helicopter but our aim is to expand the business further.”
A hangar is being constructed at the NAeL for this purpose even as machines are being installed for the same.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had acquired defunct Hindustan Cables Limited (HCL) last year to set up the subsidiary. HCL was lying defunct for the last 15 years.
State cabinet minister for medical and health and the UP government spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh said, “The ongoing work at HAL is a part of the state government’s initiative to extend defence corridor from Chitrakoot to Naini. We are going to make the once industrial hub of trans-Yamuna area of Allahabad a manufacturing centre.”
The Naini industrial region was so far known for manufacturer of transformers.
HAL officials said the scale models would be created in the first phase followed by technical models and production of the entire framework of Dhruv helicopters would commence in the third phase.
The manufacture of complete helicopters in the NAeL is expected to commence from June 2019.
The NAeL has so far dispatched 335 harnesses (looms) used in the indigenous fighter planes Tejas and 28 looms used in the indigenously developed Dhruv helicopters manufactured in its facility to Bengaluru.
The looms act as the nervous system of an aircraft and help coordinate its various systems.
In the first consignment, the NAeL has manufactured looms for military aircraft. Preparations are now on for the manufacture of civil looms. Permissions for these are awaited from the DGCA, he said.
Meanwhile, Boeing has decided to start training courses for the youth in coordination with HAL.
Recently a delegation led by Siddharth Nath Singh had been to the US where Boeing Company gave consent for investing in Naini.
“The Boeing India will start a skill development centre in Naini with HAL. In this context, a memorandum of understanding has also been signed between Boeing and HAL,” said Singh.
Boeing would provide training and hands on experience to youngsters from its facilities across the world.