HAL Koraput aero-engine production crossed the 2,000 mark on Tuesday, when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh witnessed the Koraput Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) hand over its 2,000th engine to the Indian Air Force (IAF). He also announced a second production line for the Shakti helicopter engine.

Two capacity decisions came with the milestone. HAL will raise annual output of the AL-31FP, the engine that powers the Su-30MKI, from 30 to 50 units with an investment of Rs 335 crore. The new Shakti line, costing Rs 218 crore, will be able to turn out up to 100 engines a year.

The Defence Minister called for stronger indigenous capability across the design, development, testing, manufacturing and maintenance of advanced aero-engines. Mastery of propulsion technology, he said, is essential for self-reliance in aerospace and defence.

He described the aero-engine as the "heart" of an aircraft. Without reliable propulsion, he said, advanced airframes, radars and weapons cannot be used to full effect.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the 2,000 deliveries represent six decades of engineering work since the Division was set up in 1964. The Defence Minister congratulated the engineers, technicians, scientists and workforce at Koraput, and urged the team to raise standards in quality, productivity, indigenisation, innovation and delivery timelines.


Second Shakti line to serve Dhruv and Prachand

The second Shakti engine line is scheduled to be fully established by 2028-29. It will cater to indigenous helicopters, including the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), the ministry said.

Developed jointly by HAL and France's Safran Helicopter Engines, the Shakti is the turboshaft behind HAL's indigenous rotary-wing fleet. The two companies have since moved to a heavier engine class, with HAL and Safran signing the final contract for the Aravalli engine for the IMRH and DBMRH in August.

The Defence Forces, the Defence Minister said, need engines that are available when needed, supported throughout their lifecycle and upgraded as technology evolves.

63 AL-31FP engines delivered against a target of 60

The Government placed an order with HAL in 2024 for 240 AL-31FP engines for the Su-30MKI fleet. The contract, signed in September that year, was valued at over Rs 26,000 crore. Despite global supply-chain disruptions and raw-material challenges, HAL delivered the first engine ahead of schedule and had handed over 63 engines against a target of 60 by the end of the second year, the ministry said.

The Rs 335 crore expansion lifts that rate to 50 engines a year.

More than 9,000 engines overhauled

HAL Koraput aero-engine overhaul has run alongside new production for decades. More than 9,000 engines have been overhauled at the Division so far, and the Defence Minister credited indigenisation of components and shorter turnaround times with improving operational readiness and extending the service life of critical assets. Production provides new capability, he said, while overhaul extends service life, and both are critical for military preparedness.

Engines built at Koraput have powered the MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI.

HAL Koraput aero-engine base and the AMCA engine push

Aerospace self-reliance, the Defence Minister said, must extend to indigenous aero-engine capability, particularly for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. He pointed to a proposed investment of around Rs 5,000 crore, indigenisation of raw materials in partnership with Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) and the establishment of India's first indigenous high-thrust engine testing facility.

A sovereign aerospace ecosystem, he added, needs indigenous capability across materials, design, manufacturing, testing and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO).

The engine question has been on the IAF's agenda this month. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh sought a decision on an India-made fighter engine at his annual press conference on 3 October.

Modern engines combine advanced superalloys, thermal-barrier coatings and sophisticated cooling systems to perform reliably under extreme conditions, the Defence Minister noted, calling for expertise in precision manufacturing, metallurgy, testing and stringent quality assurance. He described aero-engine development as a long-term effort that needs sustained investment, specialised testing, skilled manpower and a strong industrial base, with production that is repeatable, reliable and scalable.

Koraput to anchor a wider propulsion ecosystem

HAL was asked to develop Koraput as more than an engine factory. The Defence Minister called for greater integration of MSMEs, start-ups, private industry, academia and research institutions, with HAL nurturing suppliers, mentoring MSMEs, backing start-ups and young engineers, working with universities, creating opportunities for skilled local youth and building capability in critical engine components.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Tejpal Singh, HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K, MIDHANI Chairman and Managing Director Dr SVS Narayana Murty and Joint Secretary Manisha Chandra were present.

The Defence Minister cited Odisha's strategic location, long coastline, ports, mineral resources, industrial infrastructure and skilled manpower, along with DRDO's Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, as a foundation for aerospace and defence manufacturing in the State. He also welcomed the Odisha Government's approval for an Aerospace and Defence Equipment Manufacturing Complex at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district.