Mahindra Aerospace to manufacture bizjets in association with NAL
23 Jun 2008
Indian automobile major, Mahindra Group, is actively considering plans to manufacture executive jets, according to reports in a section of the media. The $7 billion group has lined up ambitious plans to step into aerospace manufacture in partnership with Indian state-run research establishments.
As for their business jet plans, M&M vice chairman and managing director, Anand Mahindra, has been quoted as saying that the project would be an integrated operation under Mahindra Aerospace and would involve the entire chain – from design to end-manufacture of planes.
In its initial phase, according to Mahindra, the company would manufacture four-seater luxury executive jets that will have a range of 1,300 km, with a cruising speed of 280 km per hour. The aircraft would be built with components that would be sourced globally.
Mahindra also said that the jets could also be reconfigured as five-seaters.
Mahindra Aerospace's foray into business jet design and manufacture is in partnership with the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), who will be designing the plane.
Bangalore-based NAL, is a constituent member of the umbrella organisation, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of India (CSIR), and focuses on developing aircraft and aerospace-related technologies.