HAL to invest Rs 200 cr in strategic electronics unit

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) plans to invest Rs 200 crore in its strategic electronics manufacturing unit that has been set up on 200 acres at Kinfra Industrial Park at Seethangoli in Kasargod district, and is ready for inauguration.

The unit is planned as an extension of the Hyderabad-based Avionics division of the company initially. The new facility may be expanded to include projects arising out of the new aircraft programmes and may be converted into a full-fledged division in future.

The company's Avionics division manufactures a wide variety of electronic equipment encompassing the areas of communication, radar, navigation, computers and electronic warfare. These products are being supplied for fitment on various aircraft and helicopters that are supplied to the Armed Forces.

The land for the new factory has been provided on a 99-year lease by the Kerala government. HAL currently has 19 production units and nine R&D centres at seven locations in India.

The company's product track record includes 12 types of aircraft manufactured with in-house R&D and 14 types produced under licence. HAL has manufactured over 3,550 aircraft, 3,600 engines and overhauled over 8,150 aircraft and 27,300 engines.