Joint Development Of Indian-French High-Powered Turboshaft Engine 'Aravalli' For New-Generation Medium-Lift Helicopters Takes Off

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and French engine-maker Safran have signed a contract to start the joint development of a high-powered turboshaft engine, 'Aravalli', meant for indigenous next-generation medium-lift helicopters.

HAL and Safran agreed on the joint development of these engines on the sidelines of Aero India 2023 in February last year. For this, Safran and HAL have also opened a facility in Bengaluru to develop and test these new engines.

HAL's chief, C B Ananthakrishnan, speaking about this partnership, said, “This partnership with SAFHAL [joint venture between HAL and Safran] marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards achieving technological self-reliance in India’s aerospace and defence sectors. The collaboration will not only ensure the operational capabilities of the IMRH and DBMRH platforms, but also contribute to the broader goal of indigenous development of critical defence technologies.”

The Aravalli will power HAL's in-development 13-tonne medium-lift helicopters, the Indian Multi-role Helicopter (IMRH) and Deck-based Multi-role Helicopter (DB-MRH). The IMRH is intended for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army, while the DB-MRH is intended for the Indian Navy.

These engines will be optimised for operations in the high-altitude regions of Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, opposite the China border.

HAL and Safran already jointly produce helicopter engines called Shakti, which are based on Safran's TM-333 turboshaft engines and power variants of the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, and Light Utility Helicopter.