Koraput to be nurtured as Aero Engine Capital of India: Raha

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha today underscored the need to ensure that Koraput in Odisha emerges as the aero engine capital of the country.
Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), Koraput Division at Sunabeda here, the Chief of Air Staff said that the Division had the potential, evident from the work done in the past 50 years, especially in carrying out manufacturing, repairing and overhauling of MiG and Su-30 engines.
The Air Chief Marshal inaugurated a two-day national seminar on 'Emerging trends in aero-engine architecture and self-reliance' here. The Air Chief also inaugurated the indigenisation and outsourcing exhibition organised on the occasion.

Odisha Chief Secretary G C Pati who attended a function marking Golden Jubilee of HAL Koraput, said, "HAL should lay more emphasis on outsourcing since such a step would lead to creation of jobs and businesses at different levels in the state."
RK Tyagi, Chairman HAL while thanking IAF and the state government for their continued support, urged HAL employees to achieve more in next 10 years than what they accomplished in the last 50 years.
"Koraput is already aero engine capital of India. In general HAL is on the right path with its all-round progress especially in the last two years. We have come a long way from being manufacturing company to a technology driven company," he said.

K Tamilamani, Director General, (Aeronautics), DRDO insisted that efforts must be made to have indigenous engine as dependence on others costs the country heavily. "Since we have the potential and infrastructure as companies like HAL are around, we must make all the efforts with proper time line," he said.

S Subrahmanyan, Managing Director of HAL MiG (Complex) in his welcome address outlined the growth and contribution of the Division.
A coffee table book on 50 years of Koraput Division was released on the occasion.
The two-day seminar focuses on topics such as advanced gas turbine engine for combat aircraft, developments in fourth and fifth generation engines, aero-engine applications in the context of advanced magnesium alloys, technology challenges in developing aero-engines etc. Scientists and experts from all over the country are participating in the seminar.