HAL may enter the massive 21,000 crore plan to manufacture Naval Utility Helicopters
The Make in India plan might take a leap as the Rs.21000 crore plan to manufacture Naval Utility Helicopters in partnership with a foreign vendor has been stranded for a long period of time. The Defence Ministry is re-evaluating its strategies to give the project to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Bidding for Naval Utility Helicopters project
The Defence Ministry has called out Indian and foreign companies for bidding on this project to understand if there are plans to continue the line beyond the 111 Naval Utility Helicopters envisaged to meet exports in both civil and military markets.
There is an apprehension that there could be reductions in the defence budget this year which might result in the decreasing the number of choppers.
HAL has been making a strong pitch for its Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH). HAL could get a chance to enter the competition if it is able to develop compliant prototypes, within a specific period of time. 
The state-owned company has been pitching a naval variant of the ALH with folding rotor blades and tail but is yet to develop a prototype.
