HAL has a order book of ₹84,000 cr, another ₹50,000 cr in pipeline: CMD.

Defence exports have witnessed a major uptick, with India set to sell fighter aircraft and helicopters to Argentina, Egypt, and the Philippines. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director CB Ananthakrishnan revealed on Tuesday that the PSU is sitting on a book order of ₹84,000 crore and waiting for another ₹50,000 crore worth of projects to materialise.

At Aero India 2023, CB Ananthakrishnan said Argentina, Egypt, and the Philippines have shown an interest in HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. According to him, HAL has offered 15 LCA Mk-1 to Argentina, 20 LCAs to Egypt, and six helicopters to the Philippines.

“The country has been able to generate a lot of interest in the global aerospace market, and sooner or later, we will achieve a breakthrough order,” HAL chief said while addressing a press conference.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his inaugural address at Aero India on Monday, said the government aims to more than triple defence exports to over $5 billion. 

In response to a question about the status of engagement with Malaysia, Ananthakrishnan said that the talks in this context have suffered a “slight setback.”

“We have not received anything in black and white... But we are hearing that the Koreans may get the order,” the HAL chief replied. But, as per him, HAL has not given up and is “making all-out attempts to push through our product.”

HBL