Rajnath Singh Announces Second Shakti Engine Production Line at HAL Koraput

Bhubaneswar, Oct 6 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday announced an investment of Rs 218 crore for setting up a second production line for Shakti helicopter engines at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Koraput division, as India intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technology for critical aircraft engines.

The new production line will have the capacity to manufacture up to 100 Shakti engines annually and is expected to become fully operational by 2028-29. The engines will power indigenous platforms, including the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and Prachand Light Combat Helicopter.

Singh made the announcement while witnessing the delivery of HAL Koraput’s 2,000th aero-engine. He called for accelerated efforts to build indigenous capabilities in aero-engine design, development, testing, manufacturing and maintenance.

The Defence Minister said mastery of aero-engine technology was crucial to India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in aerospace and defence, particularly as the country moves forward with the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

He highlighted a proposed investment of Rs 5,000 crore in the AMCA engine programme, along with efforts to develop indigenous sources for critical raw materials has powered several generations of fighter aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI and establish a high-thrust engine testing facility in the country.

HAL will also increase its annual production capacity of AL-31FP engines from 30 to 50, with an investment of Rs 335 crore. Of the 240 engines ordered for the Su-30MKI in 2024, HAL has delivered 63, exceeding its target of 60 by the end of the second year despite global supply-chain challenges.

Singh noted that HAL Koraput, which has completed six decades of operations, has powered several generations of fighter aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI. The division has also overhauled more than 9,000 engines.

He urged HAL to transform Koraput into a broader aerospace propulsion hub by bringing together MSMEs, start-ups, private industry, academia and research institutions and developing indigenous capabilities for critical components.

The Defence Minister also projected Odisha as a potential defence manufacturing hub, citing its industrial infrastructure, ports, mineral resources and skilled workforce, besides the DRDO’s Integrated Test Range at Chandipur.

He welcomed the Odisha government’s approval for an Aerospace and Defence Equipment Manufacturing Complex at Gajamara in Dhenkanal.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, senior Air Force officials and top executives of HAL attended the event.