IndiaPosted at: Oct 6 2026 6:17PM


HAL Koraput delivers 2,000th aero-engine; Rajnath calls for self-reliance in propulsion technology

New DElhi, Oct 6 (UNI) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Koraput Division on Tuesday delivered its 2,000th aero-engine, marking six decades of propulsion manufacturing and a significant milestone in India's aerospace and defence journey.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who witnessed the delivery, called for strengthening indigenous capabilities across the entire aero-engine ecosystem, from design and development to testing, manufacturing and maintenance, saying mastery of propulsion technology was essential for achieving self-reliance in the aerospace and defence sector.
Congratulating the engineers, scientists, technicians and skilled workforce of HAL Koraput, Singh said the delivery of 2,000 engines represented “2,000 significant contributions” to the operational capability of the armed forces. The Koraput Division was established in 1964.
HAL Koraput has manufactured engines powering frontline combat aircraft including the MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI. Besides production, the division has overhauled more than 9,000 engines, contributing to extending the service life of critical military assets.
Describing the aero-engine as the “heart” of an aircraft, Singh said advanced airframes, radars, weapons and avionics could be effectively utilised only when supported by reliable propulsion. He stressed the importance of precision manufacturing, advanced materials, metallurgy, cooling technologies, testing and stringent quality assurance.
The defence minister announced that HAL would raise the annual production capacity of AL-31FP engines from 30 to 50 by investing Rs 335 crore. The engines power the Su-30MKI fleet of the Indian Air Force.
The government had placed an order for 240 AL-31FP engines with HAL in 2024. Despite global supply-chain disruptions and raw-material challenges, HAL delivered the first engine ahead of schedule and has supplied 63 engines against a target of 60 by the end of the second year.
Singh also announced a second production line for Shakti engines at an investment of Rs 218 crore. The new line will have the capacity to produce up to 100 engines annually and is expected to be fully established by 2028-29. The engines will support indigenous helicopters such as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand.
On India's future propulsion requirements, Singh said the government is pursuing an indigenous high-thrust aero-engine programme with an investment of around Rs 5,000 crore, particularly in the context of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
He said efforts were also underway to indigenise critical raw materials in partnership with Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) and establish India's first indigenous high-thrust engine testing facility.
Singh called for greater participation of MSMEs, start-ups, private industry, academia and research institutions in the propulsion ecosystem. He urged HAL to transform Koraput from an engine production facility into a broader aerospace propulsion hub by developing suppliers, mentoring MSMEs, nurturing young engineers and start-ups and developing indigenous capabilities for critical engine components.UNI PWS ABA
Tags: #HAL Koraput delivers 2#000th aero-engine; Rajnath calls for self-reliance in propulsion technology
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