HAL plans to take Dhruv to Latin American market

[sancho]

Latin America is the the next big stop for Indian firms looking to expand their operations overseas.

After a clutch of automobile and energy sector investments in the region, state-owned aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is now eyeing this lucrative market with its indigenously developed advanced light helicopter Dhruv.

According to RK Tyagi, chairman, HAL, the company participated in an international competitive bidding tender in Ecuador and was successful in bagging the contract for export of seven Dhruv helicopters to the country to be operated by the Ecuadorian Air Force.

“HAL is in contact with other potential customers in the region and business prospects are being pursued in other Latin American countries such as Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil etc,” Tyagi added.

The HAL strategy in the region would be two fold. First, it would secure orders for advanced aerospace equipment. And once this generates enough interest in the region, the company would scout for location to set up a manufacturing base. Several countries, where HAL is exploring export orders, have already indicated their intent to allow the Indian entity to set up a manufacturing facility...

HAL plans to take Dhruv to Latin American market - Financial Express

 

[Abingdonboy]

HAL plans to take Dhruv to Latin American market - Financial Express

The upcoming LUH should also do well there and apparently Ecuadorian officials were briefed on the LCH and showed significant interest in it, particularly its high-altitdude operation capabilities.


Any updates on the FAA safety clearances that HAL were seeking for the ALH that was holding back potential orders format eh US and Europe?

 

[sancho]

The upcoming LUH should also do well there and apparently Ecuadorian officials were briefed on the LCH and showed significant interest in it, particularly its high-altitdude operation capabilities.


Any updates on the FAA safety clearances that HAL were seeking for the ALH that was holding back potential orders format eh US and Europe?

Rudra and LCH as varients of the Dhruv surely will increase export potential of the Dhruv in general. The LUH would then come into a market where the Dhruv and HAL is already placed, therefore can gain benefits. In Europe and the US however, the chances are low, because of the competition of Airbus and major US players.

 

[Tshering22]

Rudra and LCH as varients of the Dhruv surely will increase export potential of the Dhruv in general. The LUH would then come into a market where the Dhruv and HAL is already placed, therefore can gain benefits. In Europe and the US however, the chances are low, because of the competition of Airbus and major US players.

The problem with HAL is not their export potential but their poor after sales support. Today the market relies on after sales support. HAL manufactures like a typical 9-5 establishment riddled with paperwork and permits and approvals. This slows down parts production and therefore discourages countries from buying a potent helicopter like Dhruv.

 

[sancho]

The problem with HAL is not their export potential but their poor after sales support. Today the market relies on after sales support. HAL manufactures like a typical 9-5 establishment riddled with paperwork and permits and approvals. This slows down parts production and therefore discourages countries from buying a potent helicopter like Dhruv.

Well I guess that @sandy_3126 about HAL, but first you need a market and a product that can attract interests. Dhruv alone doesn't do it that much, but as a package with Rudra or LCH surely will be interesting.

 

[SR-91]

Rudra and LCH as varients of the Dhruv surely will increase export potential of the Dhruv in general. The LUH would then come into a market where the Dhruv and HAL is already placed, therefore can gain benefits. In Europe and the US however, the chances are low, because of the competition of Airbus and major US players.

What about civilian version of Dhruv. There is a big market for that too

 

[Abingdonboy]

The problem with HAL is not their export potential but their poor after sales support. Today the market relies on after sales support. HAL manufactures like a typical 9-5 establishment riddled with paperwork and permits and approvals. This slows down parts production and therefore discourages countries from buying a potent helicopter like Dhruv.

How can you say that? The number of exported units is very low anyway and there have been no real horror stories from these export customers criticising HAL's after sales support.


The real problem with HAL is their poor marketing and sales pitching. They don't seem to be ambitious enough and at any international air show / exhibition their stalls are always on a small scale.

 

[MilSpec]

Well I guess that @sandy_3126 about HAL, but first you need a market and a product that can attract interests. Dhruv alone doesn't do it that much, but as a package with Rudra or LCH surely will be interesting.

I don't know of existence of any sales and service dept's for HAL, but then I dont know anything about heli division... that's that

How can you say that? The number of exported units is very low anyway and there have been no real horror stories from these export customers criticising HAL's after sales support.


The real problem with HAL is their poor marketing and sales pitching. They don't seem to be ambitious enough and at any international air show / exhibition their stalls are always on a small scale.

I dont know of existence of any marketing and sales force either....

 

[sancho]

What about civilian version of Dhruv. There is a big market for that too

Abroad that will be difficult, simply too much competition and India is not necessarily known as a high quality choice here. What I don't understand however, is why the Dhruv has so little success on the Indian civilian market. Why don't even Indian privat companies or the states procure it, at least for MEDIVAC roles. Not sure if HAL is doing too well when it comes to marketing here.

 

[MilSpec]

Abroad that will be difficult, simply too much competition and India is not necessarily known as a high quality choice here. What I don't understand however, is why the Dhruv has so little success on the Indian civilian market. Why don't even Indian privat companies or the states procure it, at least for MEDIVAC roles. Not sure if HAL is doing too well when it comes to marketing here.

HAL/DRDO/OFB are still in the model of 80's bajaj scooter model where to buy one you would have to be in a waiting list for 5 years and the product itself wasn't all that to begin with. The structure needs to change, the organisation of HAL needs to change the governments outlook towards these organization needs to change as well. One of the answers is your favorite choice of privatization, but then i haven't seen mahindra ,tata and l&T do much in the international market in their home turf either.

Salsirmaz turkey is model organization that OFB can follow. It has been a turkish ordinance manufacturer for a long time, today they are competing with CZ in every market that CZ has a presence in. LCH can be a low cost attack heli in modern times an aka jf17 type super price to value machine in rotary wing attack role, but this opportunity is being wasted by HAL and the window is closing really fast. Indian ship building can produce 500 ton class ships all day and market it successfully and there would be a good market for that too. then there is the shivalik class frigate, where india could do a Indo-israeli venture. But these are all missed opportunities. One of the easiest things OFB could do is introduce a semi auto MICWS three barrel package in US markets...blunders after blunders....