India’s state-owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will increase annual production capacity of the Russian-origin AL-31FP engine from 30 to 50 units, and simultaneously establish a second production line for the Shakti helicopter engine.
India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced these developments on 6 October 2026.
The production expansions are intended to increase engine availability for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter and helicopter fleets, while strengthening domestic manufacturing and support capabilities.
The announcements were made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a visit to HAL’s Engine Division at Koraput, where he witnessed delivery of the 2,000th engine produced at the facility.
In September 2024, the MoD placed an order with HAL for 240 Saturn AL-31FP engines for the IAF’s Su-30MKI fleet. That contract, to be completed by 2032, was valued at INR260 billion (US$3 billion). Engine deliveries commenced in October the same year.
Singh said HAL had delivered the first engine ahead of schedule, despite global supply chain disruptions and raw material challenges.
By the end of the programme’s second year, HAL had delivered 63 engines against a target of 60. The production rate for the remaining 177 engines will now be 50 engines annually.
By the end of the delivery programme, HAL is expecting indigenous content to reach 63%, and to have achieved an average of over 54% over the whole programme.
HAL is also on contract to deliver twelve additional Su-30MKI fighters to the IAF under a December 2024 deal valued at INR135 billion (US$1.58 billion).
Turning to the other piece of news, HAL’s second Shakti engine production line will have a production capacity of up to 100 engines annually. The production facility is scheduled to be fully established by 2028-29.
The Shakti engine, an Indian derivative of Safran’s Ardiden 1H1 engine, is being produced under license by HAL in Bengaluru.
Shakti engines power the Dhruv advanced light helicopter and Prachand light combat helicopter manufactured by HAL.
by Atul Chandra, Bangalore
