Despite Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL) plans to establish an entire production line in Egypt to make the light combat aircraft (LAC), ABP Live has learned that India is willing to go for transfer of technology (ToT) with Egypt. HAL is located in Yelahanka, Bengaluru.
According to HAL, the state-owned company is also concentrating on exporting its advanced light helicopters and Dornier aircraft to markets outside of India, including Argentina, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.
“We have solid leads for LCA from many countries…
Egypt is considering joining. We’ve been telling them that we can set up shop on the ground there in a way that boosts their growing defence industry “HAL’s chairman and managing director CB Ananthakrishnan made the comments at a press conference on the eve of Aero India 2023.
HAL hopes to provide the Egyptians with a turnkey option for their Tejas fighter jets, beginning with design and ending with production and transfer of technology.
“We’re ready to help them establish the entire Tejas production chain, from sourcing raw materials to shipping finished goods. Right now, we’re having a conversation. They plan on moving the factory there in its entirety. It’s feasible if the numbers are right, and we’re ready to get set up with licenced technology just as we’re happy to import licenced technology from other countries “HAL’s Director of Operations Jayadeva EP confirmed the news to ABP Live.
It was stated, “We are willing to cooperate and we are willing to go for ToT also with them (Egypt).”
This comes after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-recent Sisi’s visit to India, during which the status of ties between the two countries was raised to that of a “Strategic Partnership,” with a particular emphasis on strengthening the two countries’ defence ties.
A manufacturing unit for the fighters was first discussed during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Egypt in October 2022.
Before that, in November 2021, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall VR Chaudhari travelled to Egypt, and in July 2022, his Egyptian counterpart, Air Marshal Mohamed Abbas Helmy Md Hashem, travelled to India.
HAL is considering a number of other destinations besides Egypt, including Argentina, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
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“Major interest has also been shown by Argentina. The product has won them over, and they’re pleased with it. Someone from their Air Force team flew the plane too. So, we are following up on the Argentinean leads we have. The LCA order is expected to go through after one of the contracts is signed with them “stated the Chief Operating Officer.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force has shown more interest in the South Korean FA-50 Golden Eagle fighter jet than in the Indian LCA Tejas, so the state-owned company in Malaysia has suffered a “setback.”
“In fact, we are one of the finalists in Malaysia. Our expectations were high that we would be awarded the contract. Unfortunately, there has been a minor setback. To all appearances, the other candidate has been chosen “in the words of Ananthakrishnan.
And he added, “Along with the Korean plane, Tejas made the cut. Even though we haven’t seen it in writing yet, rumours have it that the Koreans have the go-ahead. However, in terms of Malaysia, we are also actively promoting our own products.”
Jayadeva claims that over the next two years, HAL has set a target export volume of Rs.2,500 crores.
