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HAL to outsource aircraft components to pvt sector

With Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's "hands being full" in manufacturing military and civilian aircraft of various types, the defence public sector unit on Thursday invited large-scale private sector participation in its projects.

"We are going to the private industry for outsourcing large number of components, and Indian private sector is mature enough to handle all our requirements," HAL CMD N R Mohanty told the India Defence Industry Summit being held on the sidelines of the Confederation of Indian Industry-sponsored Defexpo 2002.

Elaborating on the projects being sanctioned by the government, he said HAL would soon start joint manufacture of the multi-role Sukhoi-30 MKI combat aircraft, with Russia, which was test flown at Irkutsk Aviation Production Association's airfield on December 28 last year.

"It is an over $4 billion project," he said, adding the Light Combat Aircraft's second prototype TD-2 had a technical demonstration two weeks ago.

"The government has already sanctioned the money for LCA development," he said.

The HAL, Mohanty said, was also producing two-seater Jaguar deep-penetration aircraft in both trainer and strike versions, besides manufacturing the Advanced Light Helicopters for the Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guards. HAL has handed several of these choppers to the army.

Stating that "our hands are full", Mohanty said: "I can assure the private parties that we will guarantee five-year workload for them and also provide them with technical expertise."

HAL BAGS ISRAELI DEAL

HAL on Thursday tied up with Israel Aircraft Industries to convert Boeing 737 passenger jets to cargo aircraft.

"HAL has won the order against stiff competition from several other nations. This order will give fillip for HAL's export efforts," company CMD Mohanty said.

A memorandum to finalise the deal was signed by Mohanty and IAI CEO M Keret in New Delhi.

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