Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will on Tuesday lay the foundation stone for a Rs 218-crore facility linked to the production of Shakti engines at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Koraput division in Odisha, giving a fresh push to India’s efforts to expand indigenous aero-engine manufacturing capacity.
Singh will also inaugurate a function marking the delivery of the 2,000th aero-engine by HAL’s Koraput division at Sunabeda. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will attend the programme, which will mark nearly six decades of the division’s contribution to India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing capabilities.
Second Shakti line
The Rs 218-crore project will establish a second production line for Shakti engines at the Koraput facility. The expansion is aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity as the armed forces’ requirements for indigenous helicopters grow.
The additional line will support platforms including HAL’s Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and Prachand Light Combat Helicopter, both of which use variants of the Shakti turboshaft engine.
Expanding engine production has assumed greater importance as India seeks to increase the number of domestically manufactured military helicopters in service. The availability of engines is critical not only for producing new helicopters but also for sustaining existing fleets through maintenance, overhaul and replacement requirements.
Indo-French engine programme
The Shakti engine programme is an Indo-French collaboration between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines. The turboshaft engine was developed to meet Indian requirements and has become an important component of HAL’s indigenous helicopter programmes.
The engine powers several variants of the Dhruv ALH and the combat-oriented Prachand LCH. The partnership has allowed HAL to progressively build domestic capabilities in manufacturing and supporting helicopter engines while drawing on Safran’s propulsion technology.
The establishment of a second production line is expected to increase the Koraput division’s ability to respond to future helicopter orders and provide long-term engine support to the armed forces.
2,000th engine milestone
Singh will also mark the delivery of the 2,000th aero-engine produced by the Koraput division, a milestone that reflects the facility’s evolution over almost 60 years.
Established in the 1960s, the Sunabeda facility initially developed expertise around Soviet-origin military aircraft engines. Its responsibilities subsequently expanded from manufacturing and servicing older propulsion systems to the production, repair and overhaul of engines for modern combat aircraft.
The Koraput division today remains an important part of HAL’s engine manufacturing network and is closely associated with engines powering the Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter fleet.
The 2,000-engine milestone also comes as HAL seeks to expand its role across the lifecycle of military propulsion systems, encompassing manufacturing, repair, overhaul and technical support.
Propulsion remains critical
Aero engines are among the most technologically complex components of military aircraft and helicopters. Building deeper domestic capabilities in propulsion has consequently emerged as a central element of India’s defence indigenisation programme.
India has achieved significant domestic capability in designing and manufacturing aircraft and helicopters, but several platforms continue to depend on engines developed with or supplied by overseas partners. The government has increasingly sought technology partnerships that allow more manufacturing, maintenance and development work to be undertaken within the country.
The Shakti programme represents one such model, combining Safran’s engine technology with HAL’s manufacturing capabilities and the specific operational requirements of Indian helicopter platforms.
Dhruv, Prachand demand
The capacity expansion comes as HAL prepares for growing requirements for the Dhruv and Prachand fleets. The Dhruv is operated by different branches of the armed forces and other government agencies, while the Prachand has been developed specifically for combat operations, including at high altitudes.
A larger helicopter fleet translates directly into greater demand for engines, spares and overhaul capacity throughout the aircraft’s operational life. The second Shakti production line is therefore intended to support both future manufacturing and longer-term fleet availability.
The project also fits into the government’s broader objective of reducing dependence on imported defence equipment by developing domestic manufacturing ecosystems around major platforms.
Six decades at Sunabeda
HAL’s presence at Sunabeda has made Koraput an important centre of India’s military aviation industry. Over the decades, the division has developed capabilities in manufacturing, repair and overhaul of several types of aero engines.
Its association with the Sukhoi-30MKI programme has been particularly significant. The twin-engine fighter forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet, making domestic engine overhaul and maintenance capability important for maintaining operational availability.
The new Shakti facility will broaden the division’s role further by increasing its contribution to India’s expanding helicopter programmes.
Rajnath to visit Visakhapatnam
Before reaching Sunabeda, Singh is scheduled to attend programmes of Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam. He will inaugurate upgraded maritime infrastructure and participate in important shipbuilding milestones before travelling to Odisha later in the day.
Security has been tightened across Sunabeda ahead of the Defence Minister’s visit. Koraput Superintendent of Police Rohit Verma said routes leading to the programme venue had been sanitised and the necessary security arrangements put in place.
Tuesday’s programme will combine two milestones for HAL Koraput — the completion of its 2,000th aero-engine and the beginning of another manufacturing expansion. The Rs 218-crore Shakti facility is expected to strengthen the division’s role as India scales up production and support for its domestically manufactured military helicopters.