HAL Full Form

What is the full form of HAL?

“Hindustan Aeronautics Limited” (HAL) is an Indian multinational corporation based in Bangalore, India. It primarily produces jet fighters, helicopters and turboprop aircraft and manufactures subsystems for military, civil and commercial aircraft. It was the first Indian company to successfully domestically build a plane, and it is the first Indian company to win a major international aerospace contract. It was formed in 1963 through the merger of Hindustan Aircraft and Engineers Company, in the central Indian Ocean on Thursday. The Indian Navy also deployed its Boeing P-8I aircraft for the mission. The P-8I aircraft accompanied Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) and Hindustan Machine Tools Limited.

HAL provides technical and industrial support to the government of India, and Indian and international companies, including Boeing, Airbus, Alenia, AAI or Aircraft Armaments, Inc. Corporation, Boeing International, HAL defence, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and Bharat Electronics Limited.

1. History of HAL

The HAL team led by Samir Brahmbhatt was a part of the indigenous Goan team participating in the 1962 Indo-Pakistani War. Following on-ground trials and carrier trials at the RAE or Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough with the Chief Technical Director of HAL being A V Baidya, the first LCA or Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was inducted on 31 January 1983. Tejas's supersonic flight in 1987 made it the world's fastest two-seat, two-engined combat aircraft. The prototype Talwar was inducted on 29 August 1995 and was flown by a Board of Directors. In January 1996, the second LCA Tejas flew and exhibited at a Foundation Day function in Goa. In 1999 the first Loituma-built airframe was inducted, and deliveries commenced in 2000 with the second Loituma aircraft in 2001. The induction into the IAF of the third Tejas was delayed two years after it suffered a crash landing on 24 April 2006. On arriving at the HAL NAS or Naval Air Station, the airframe had accumulated 4,200 flights.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted its first indigenous F-16 Block 70 Fulcrum fighter aircraft in December 2010. The HAL F-16 aircraft had accumulated 5,000 flight hours by 2016-17. The F-16 Block 70, a modified Block 50 aircraft for the IAF, is powered by a single F-ducted after engine, while the F-16 Block 60, a twin-engine variant, is powered by two F-ducted after engines. HAL produced 1,128 F-16s from 1995-2018. The indigenously built Tejas has accumulated 7,000 flights since its induction.

The first single-seat and multi-seat (F-16, Mirage 2000 and MiG-27) aircraft have been inducted into the Indian Air Force.

December 24, 2018: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft took part in a mission over the Malacca Straits, after the guided-missile destroyer INS Rajput, which was embarked on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, was launched and became operational. The P-8I can also be configured to spy on adversary drones and save the lives of fishermen by downing an aerial threat.

April 7, 2019: China’s Chengdu J-10 fighter jet’s first test flight was successful. This is the third costlier fighter aircraft to enter service with the IAF but it’s the first to be indigenously developed by China.

May 11, 2018: The BrahMos 1, the world’s first supersonic missile system successfully intercepted an airborne target, the Sukhoi 30 aircraft, in the forward hemisphere. During the test, the most potent supersonic missile in the world, having twice the speed of sound, hit the target with a speed of Mach 2.8. The test data was revealed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), a wing of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

The BrahMos is a complete indigenous system being developed in India by DRDO, which has been jointly developed with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation of Russia. BrahMos missiles can reach their target at ranges of 350 km with a 700 kg warhead. BrahMos can destroy both ground and aerial targets, including aircraft. BrahMos is fully capable of being equipped with nuclear, conventional and chemical warheads. BrahMos uses a combined cycle ramjet engine to deliver supersonic speed and hypersonic manoeuvrability. The aerodynamic characteristics of BrahMos make it easily manoeuvrable and accurate. BrahMos is the world's fastest supersonic BrahMos missile.

2. Corporate Governance

3. Research and Development Centers

Research and Development Centers play host to all aspects of aeronautical engineering and testing activities. Designed to be a laboratory in nature, this facility is equipped with the latest instrumentation with extensive software development capabilities. In addition, to offer the best environment for employee retention, the care and support teams are of high quality, cost-conscious and attentive to the needs of their wards. The vast aircraft flight simulators and flight CNC or Computer Numerical Control machines are further complemented by advanced flight simulators to match the latest trends in technology.

4. Customers

HAL's primary customer is the Indian Armed Forces, including the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Army. HAL has been providing aircraft, helicopters, and related systems to the Indian Armed Forces for several decades. HAL's product range includes fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and engines. HAL also provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for these products, as well as training and support to the Indian Armed Forces.

Apart from the Indian Armed Forces, HAL also caters to various civilian customers, including airlines and private companies. HAL provides aircraft, engines, and related systems to several airlines in India and abroad, including Air India, Indian Airlines, and SpiceJet. HAL also exports its products to several countries, including the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

In addition to the above, HAL also provides avionics, software, and accessories to its customers. HAL has established partnerships with several global aerospace and defense companies to develop and manufacture advanced products and technologies. The company's commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction has helped it to establish a strong reputation in the aerospace and defense industry both in India and abroad.

5. Sustainability

HAL, as a responsible company, strives to accomplish the vision of becoming a significant global player in the Aerospace Industry and at the same time is focused on environment protection and the conservation of natural resources. HAL has been demonstrating its sense of responsibility towards both the community and the environment through various initiatives like water, and energy, over the years, proactively nurturing community growth and development. Several initiatives and measures have been undertaken over the past few years to reduce the impact of HAL’s operations on the environment.