HAL To Spend Rs 2,000 Crore On Research And Development, Says Top Official, Critics Question Funding Sufficiency

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India's premier state-run aerospace company, announced plans to allocate Rs 2,000 crore ($240 million) to Research and Development (R&D) this year, according to a statement by a top official on Wednesday (6 December).

D K Sunil, HAL's Director of Engineering and R&D, during a briefing ahead of the upcoming Avionics Expo 2023, stated, "We are investing over Rs 2,000 crore this year in R&D."

The Expo, scheduled to be held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi from December 7 to 8, will showcase HAL's advancements in cutting-edge avionics systems, with panel discussions, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities.

Emphasising HAL's commitment to 'Atmanirbharta' or self-reliance in defence, Sunil remarked, "We have been championing self-reliance over time and want to highlight our advancements at the expo."

He also highlighted HAL's extensive R&D setup, comprising nine centres, and its focus on developing critical avionics components.

However, the announcement of a ₹2,000 crore investment in R&D has sparked concerns in some circles, particularly given the Indian government's recent approval of orders worth over ₹1.6 lakh crore to HAL.

This includes manufacturing 97 LCA Tejas jets, 156 LCH Prachand helicopters, and upgrading 84 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI jets.

Experts have raised questions about whether this sum is sufficient, considering the capital-intensive nature of defence R&D projects.

Also Read: In One Of The Largest-Ever Deals, Defence Ministry Clears Purchase Of 97 Tejas Fighters And 156 Prachand Combat Helicopters For IAF