Bidar may get HALs proposed chopper project

[RPK]

Bidar may get HALs proposed chopper project - southindia - Bangalore - ibnlive


BANGALORE: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a Navaratna defence PSU and a top-ranked global defence aerospace company, which is looking for a location to house a production facility for its Advanced Utility Helicopter (AUH) project, could get land in Bidar for the project.
Bidar Lok Sabha member and former chief minister N Dharam Singh told Express that Union Defence Minister A K Antony had shown keen interest in establishing the unit at Bidar, where the Indian Air Force also has its base.
“Let us secure land for the proposed AUH programme and the Defence Ministry will� give a green signal to HAL to locate its production facility in Bidar,” Singh said.
He also said Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, with whom he had taken up the matter on Saturday, readily agreed to release land for the project.
“The CM’s response was encouraging and it will be the first major aerospace project in the entire Hyderabad-Karnataka region, considered the most backward in the state,” he said.
The new facility will set off huge economic activities in the region and also boost employment, he said.
According to HAL sources, the defence PSU had been on the lookout for a suitable location for the AUH project for the last two years.
Three to four locations in Karnataka had been considered but Bidar, situated at the northeastern tip of the state, seemed suitable, sources said.
Referring to the Union Defence Ministry’s proposal seeking land in Bidar, Karnataka State Infrastructure Department Secretary, Rajkumar Khatri said, “If the proposal materialses, it would help reinforce Karnataka’s leadership in aerospace.”
He said the state government would extend all cooperation to the Union Defence� Ministry in providing all necessary logistic support including land, water,� electricity� and manpower and added that Karnataka has already made a mark in� aerospace engineering activities. HAL has 16 production, three MRO divisions and 10 R&D centres across the country.
If sanctioned, Bidar would be developed as an exclusive hub for HAL’s helicopter manufacturing facilities, the sources said.

 

[Nirvana]

Dhruv Production Line ?

 

[sancho]

Dhruv Production Line ?

I'm kind of confused too, but I would guess they mean the LUH since they seems to talk about a new project.

 

[kingkobra]

It must be LCH because HAL is finding place for LCH and LUH production line and MIHAN in nagpur was on their list too..

HAL will go for best cost option
Shishir Arya, TNN | Dec 26, 2011, 01.40AM IST

NAGPUR: Maharashtra government may be wooing Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to set up its proposed helicopter unit in Butibori industrial estate but other states too are in the fray. The company is weighing all options before it including use the land it already has or request some from the landbank of ministry of defence.

In such a condition, Maharashtra needs to come up with an offer that HAL would not be able to refuse, sources in the know said. HAL is expected to consider the offer only if it leads to reducing cost of production for the choppers. Apart from Maharashtra, a number of other states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are pursuing HAL that is scouting for a 1,000 acre tract to set up factory for making light combat helicopters (LCH) and light utility helicopters (LUH).

Apart from buying land from a state government, HAL is also evaluating other options. HAL may also consider acquiring land on its own if the unit has to come up at a strategic location, said a source. Each option has its own pros and cons with respect to technical, logistical and financial aspects.

However, since the cost matters substantially in the whole decision, the first two options of using HAL's own land or that transferred from MoD would get priority over buying from a state government or acquiring on its own. It simply means any state that wants to attract the PSU will have to come up with a really attractive deal, said the source.

HAL has around 2,000 acres lying at various units but these units are also slated for expansions. Moreover, since choppers are a new venture, a separate unit is planned for the project. The option to have land in possession of other users like army, navy, air force or ordnance factories is a time consuming one, as user holding the land will also have to agree.

Cost will be a major factor as HAL was eyeing domestic as well as overseas market for its helicopters. It will also look for benefits on taxation front. So far it has only enquired about availability of land with the state governments.

President of Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) Praful Doshi said the state government should go all out for providing land including giving it free. HAL unit will promote ancillary industries and help local entrepreneurs. Former VIA chief Pravin Tapadia said apart from land at low rates, HAL should be offered a full-fledged package including sops in value added tax (VAT). The state's industry secretary K Shivaji when asked about plans said he could not comment on the specific project at this juncture.

Even though much hype is being created, the source it may take more than 2-3 years for the project to come up. Helicopters are still under development, with the prototype of the LCH being made and tests undertaken. After this, it will be weaponised and tested, followed by user trials by army and air force independently. A certification will also be needed from the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA). The process to set up the plant has been started simultaneously to save time.

HAL will go for best cost option - Times Of India

 

[Nirvana]

I'm kind of confused too, but I would guess they mean the LUH since they seems to talk about a new project.

I Guess since they are Looking for Bigger Facility , it will be Meant for Production line of Upcoming choppers LUH and LCH both of them !!

 

[sancho]

I Guess since they are Looking for Bigger Facility , it will be Meant for Production line of Upcoming choppers LUH and LCH both of them !!

But I would be suprised if they build both in the same facility and not the LCH together with the Dhruv, since both shares a lot of parts.

 

[kingkobra]

But I would be suprised if they build both in the same facility and not the LCH together with the Dhruv, since both shares a lot of parts.

HAL wants 1000 acre land for manufacturing LCH and LUH

 

[sancho]

HAL wants 1000 acre land for manufacturing LCH and LUH

I saw your post, just saying that it doesn't make much sense in logistical terms. Another option would be to merge HALs LUH and the foreign LUH licence production line at once, since both might end up with some commonality as well.

 

[Nirvana]

But I would be suprised if they build both in the same facility and not the LCH together with the Dhruv, since both shares a lot of parts.

I Guess they Already have a Production Line Running at Bangalore for Dhruv - Some 40-50 ALH are Produced per Year

So , This Facility is Probably for LCH/LUH

And LUH Will also be a Derivative of ALH from what we saw of Model at Aero India !!

---------- Post added at 11:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:16 AM ----------

To Add - I Guess The LUH Being Ordered Fennec/Kamov will also be Produced Locally !

 

[Kazhugu]

it makes sense keeping the facility in karnataka or in border regions of tn such as hosur which has lot of related ancillary units and also due to the proximity to hal main facility.....