Prime Minister Narendra Modi Dedicates Asia's Largest Helicopter Factory to the Nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) helicopter facility in Tumakuru, Karnataka, to the country on March 6, 2021. In 2016, Prime Minister Modi laid the facility's foundation stone for a brand-new, greenfield helicopter plant. This facility will greatly enhance India's ability to produce helicopters creating employment opportunities for about 6,000 people in the region. The facility, which is now officially open, will initially produce the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH), a 3-tonne class, single-engine multipurpose utility helicopter with the unique feature of high maneuverability. As India's first indigenously designed and developed helicopter, the LUH is intended to replace the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters currently in operation by the Indian Armed forces. Additionally, it has a single turbo shaft engine with enough power margin to handle challenging high-altitude missions as well as a glass cockpit with multi-function displays. The LUH has a range of 350 km with a 500 kg payload, a service ceiling of 6.5 km, and a top speed of 220 kmph. Future plans for the Tumakuru facility include the production of Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) and Indian Multirole Helicopters (IMRH), as well as the maintenance and repair of LCH, LUH, Civil ALH, and IMRH. Additionally, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) believes that the facility will enable India to meet its entire requirement of helicopters indigenously, attaining the distinction of enabling self-reliance in helicopter design, development and manufacture within the nation. Over the next 20 years, HAL intends to construct more than 1000 helicopters in the 3-15 tonne class from Tumakuru using a production setup that adheres to Industry 4.0 norms. With its dedication, the PMO has high expectations that the Tumakuru Helicopters Factory will boost India's status in the field of aviation and help India become self-reliant in the aerospace industry.