What I would seriously want them to produce is this
Sikorsky S-97 Raider
View attachment 113007
You are right about the investment part but there is a certain amount of complacency with no competition. I would like to see private firms compete with HAL, after they too will invest in India.
If i would be in decision making position i would
spin HAL off into
UAV production division
Helicopter division
Military aircraft division'
Transport Air craft division
Contract Business Division (catering to upgrades / contract build su30 etc)
Total Sales M Cr. 14,323.63
Export Sales M Cr. 382.82
Lets be honest. HAL has not been able to scale up. They find it hard to keep their commitments with the Indian armed forces themselves. If products and processes have been perfected, then scaling would not be an issue at all. The fact that HAL is not able to do so points to this deficiency.
Hence coming back to the point that these are better handled by private players who will perish if they don't perform.
commitments how ?
just to give an eg
IAF placed order for 20 tejas mk1 in IOC2 config in 2006
now IOC 2 obtained in dec 2013
now HAL produced 1st IOC 2 config AC in sep 2014 i.e. 9 months
people say order placed in 2006 but still HAL not delivered
does this line make any sense ?
there is a lot of requirements but until and unless HAL / DRDO receives firm orders in substantial nos - will they start production?