HAL-Infotech Enterprises launch JV, to tap aerospace engineering and design

Bangalore: In another interesting move in India's already buzzing aviation and aerospace sectors, IT major Infotech Enterprises Limited and public sector undertaking and premiere defence aerospace establishment, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), have announced the formation of a joint venture (JV) company. According to both the companies, the JV expects to offer world-class engineering design services in the aerospace sector.

Infotech Enterprises chairman and managing director, BVR Mohan Reddy, said through a release that Infotech and HAL have already built significant strengths in the aerospace sector. The JV, according to Reddy, would seek to provide comprehensive engineering services to customers in the aerospace sector and tap a wide array of upcoming opportunities.

Describing the JV as a first of its kind in India, HAL chairman, Ashok K Baweja, said that a number of upcoming design services opportunities would be diverted to the new entity. According to Baweja, the JV would be in a strong position to win a large portion of engineering services work likely to arise from offset programme-related work expected to flow into the country from 2009.

Headquartered in Bangalore, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is mainly involved in manufacturing aircraft, aerospace, navigation and communication equipment. It has the distinction of building the first military aircraft constructed in South Asia and is currently involved in the design, fabrication and assembly of aircraft, jet engines, helicopters and their components and spares.

HAL's facilities are located throughout India including Nasik, Korwa, Kanpur, Koraput, Lucknow, and Hyderabad.

HAL also has a long history of collaboration with several other international and domestic aerospace agencies such as the Sukhoi Aviation Corporation, Israel Aircraft Industries, Mikoyan-Gurevich, BAE Systems, Dornier Flugzeugwerke, Aeronautical Development Agency and Indian Space Research Organisation.

Last year, in July, HAL entered into a joint venture agreement with electronics display systems manufacturer, Samtel, which will develop and manufacture avionics display systems for HAL. This JV is the first public-private partnership in the area of defence avionics.