Defence Ministry, HAL Ink Rs 26,000 Cr Deal For Su-30MKI Engines

In a significant advancement towards self-reliance in defence, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has finalised a landmark contract with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) for the supply of 240 AL-31FP aero engines, valued at over Rs 26,000 crore.

The agreement, signed on 9 September 2024, was formalised in New Delhi with the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari.

The AL-31FP engines, produced by HAL’s Koraput Division, will play a crucial role in maintaining the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI fleet. Under the contract, HAL will deliver 30 engines annually, with the full supply expected to be completed within the next eight years.

HAL's manufacturing plan includes collaboration with India's defence manufacturing ecosystem, incorporating support from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as public and private sector industries.

By the end of the delivery period, HAL aims to increase the indigenisation content of the engines to 63 per cent, with an average of over 54 per cent throughout the program. This initiative is also set to boost the indigenous content in the repair and overhaul tasks for these aero-engines.