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HAL Charts Course for Civil Aviation Self-Reliance with New Aircraft

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is pivoting towards the civil aviation sector to enhance national self-reliance, as stated by its Chairman. The company is developing a civil variant of the Dhruv helicopter, the Hindustan 228 aircraft, and the SJ-100 regional jet. Manufacturing will utilize existing facilities in Nashik and Kanpur while collaborating with a network of private vendors to control costs. This initiative supports the national goal, highlighted by the Prime Minister, of massively expanding India's airport network to over 400 by 2047.

Key Points: HAL Aims for Atmanirbhar Civil Aircraft, Expands Portfolio

  • Shifting focus to civil aviation sector
  • Developing Dhruv NG & Hindustan 228 aircraft
  • Leveraging defense manufacturing experience
  • Aiming for lower costs via private partnerships
  • Aligning with national airport expansion goals
3 min read

'Vision is to become Atmanirbhar in Civil aircraft': HAL Chairman

HAL Chairman outlines vision for domestic civil aircraft manufacturing, leveraging defense expertise to build helicopters and regional jets for an expanding Indian aviation market.

"We build our military aircraft, so why not build civil aircraft also? That is the vision with which we are going. - DK Sunil"

Hyderabad, January 29

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is shifting its focus toward the civil aviation sector with the development of a diverse portfolio of passenger aircraft and helicopters. Speaking toon the sidelines of Wings India 2026, HAL Chairman DK Sunil stated that the company aims to establish a larger civil component in its manufacturing lineup to enhance national self-reliance.

"We build our military aircraft, so why not build civil aircraft also? That is the vision with which we are going. Since we are a government-owned company, the vision is that we should become Atmanirbhar in Civil aircraft also," he added.

"We are already a manufacturer of helicopters, transport aircraft, fighters... We should have a larger civil component in our portfolio," DK Sunil said. He noted that the company is leveraging its experience in defense to meet commercial needs.

The aerospace major is currently working on the Dhruv NG, a civil variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter, and the Hindustan 228, which is an 18-seater aircraft. Additionally, the company has introduced the SJ-100, a regional jet designed to seat 103 passengers.

According to the Chairman, the final assembly of these aircraft will take place in Nashik, while the Kanpur facility will produce necessary parts. The manufacturing process will also integrate a broad network of private vendors from Nashik, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.

"It's going to be a combination of existing facilities we are going to leverage, as well as work with our private partners to see that we can keep the cost of investments low so that it will translate into a lower ticket price for the aircraft," Sunil explained.

This push for domestic manufacturing aligns with broader national goals for aviation expansion. Earlier, while delivering a virtual address at the Wings India 2026 aviation summit on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is on track to establish a network of over 400 airports by the year 2047.

"In India, air travel is no longer exclusive; it's becoming inclusive. Our mission is to make air travel easily accessible to every Indian citizen. That's why we have connected Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with airports. In 2014, India had 70 airports. Today, the number of airports in India has increased to more than 160. We have activated more than 100 aerodromes in the country and, along with this, launched affordable flight schemes for our citizens... It is estimated that by 2047, India will have more than 400 airports. This will be a very large network. Not only that, our government is also working on the next phase of the UDAN scheme. This policy will further strengthen regional and affordable air connectivity," said PM Modi.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great vision, but execution is key. HAL has had delays in defense projects. For civil aviation, safety and on-time delivery are non-negotiable. I hope they partner with the best global tech firms for avionics and safety systems, even while manufacturing here.
R
Rohit P
Connecting this with the UDAN scheme and 400 airports by 2047 is brilliant. We need smaller, efficient aircraft like the Hindustan 228 for regional connectivity. This can truly make air travel affordable for common people in small towns. 🛫
S
Sarah B
As someone who travels frequently between Hyderabad and Nashik for work, the idea of more manufacturing hubs spreading economic growth is exciting. Hope the "lower ticket price" promise becomes a reality for fliers.
V
Vikram M
Leveraging defense experience for civil use is smart. The Dhruv helicopter is proven. But the real test will be the SJ-100 regional jet competing with Embraer and ATR. We need world-class after-sales service and maintenance networks, which is often a weak point.
K
Karthik V
Finally! This should have happened years ago. Every rupee spent on these indigenous aircraft will circulate within our economy. My only request to HAL: please focus on fuel efficiency and passenger comfort from day one.

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