- CMD Dr. D.K. Sunil chats with ADU at Paris Air Show 2025
- From Mirage to A320 : strengthens Indo-French Aerospace Ties
- From Defence Backbone to Civil Pioneer : HAL marches ahesd
Le Bouget, Paris. 19 June 2025. HAL’s future plans signal a bold transformation from being India’s defence manufacturing backbone to becoming a pivotal player in global civil aviation. Strengthening its long-standing Indo-French ties, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is now expanding its collaboration with French aerospace giants like Safran and Airbus—from the legacy of the Mirage to forging Inconel components for LEAP engines and building capacity for Airbus A320 MRO services in Nashik. Diversifying its product mix by accelerating civil certification of platforms like the ALH Dhruv and Hindustan 228, exploring regional aircraft development in the 40–100 seater category, and localising supply chains for strategic autonomy, HAL has a lot on it’s plate.
Positioned as a strategic aerospace bridge between India and France, HAL is steadily charting a new flight path that combines defence excellence with a growing civil aviation footprint. At the 2025 edition of the Paris Air Show, Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU) caught up with Dr. D.K. Sunil, Director CMD of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), for an in-depth conversation on the company’s global engagements, French collaborations, and upcoming ventures in both military and civil aviation. Speaking from Le Bourget, Dr. Sunil discussed HAL’s strategic push for localisation, MRO expansion, civil-certified aircraft, and future ambitions in commercial aviation.
ADU. Dr. Sunil, you’ve been at Paris Air Show for three days now. How has the footprint been for HAL here?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. It’s been very engaging. We’ve had two key objectives. One is to meet our existing partners to address ongoing issues—supplies, co-production, and future collaboration. The second is to actively encourage these companies to come to India and manufacture. We’re aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission by promoting localisation. We’re also helping partners navigate approvals through coordination with state and central governments.
ADU. So the goal is both inward strengthening and outward opportunity?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. Exactly. Localising manufacturing will ease our supply chains and increase indigenous content. At the same time, it gives our partners a cost-effective export base. Several state governments like Tamil Nadu and Telangana are present here, and we’re working together to showcase India’s aerospace manufacturing potential.
ADU. What are HAL’s existing collaborations with France?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. Our relationship with France is very deep-rooted. We work with SAFRAN for engines and components, MBDA for missile systems, and Hexcel for composite materials. French companies also supply high-grade alloys and electrical actuators. These relationships go back decades—from the Mirage era till today. It’s a very strong ecosystem, built on mutual trust between governments and industries.
ADU. Have you considered Indo-French cooperation in the MRO space?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. Absolutely. We are working with Airbus to establish a C-check MRO facility for the A320 family at our Nashik plant. Certification is expected by year-end, and operations should start next year. This will be a key development in expanding our civil aviation footprint.
ADU. Has HAL developed an India-based supply chain for its French partnerships?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. Yes, we are increasingly involving Indian vendors as part of the supply chain. That said, the aerospace sector is facing global shortages—speciality alloys, components, and metals. The post-COVID demand surge in both defence and civil sectors is challenging. We are constantly engaging with partners to secure steady supplies. HAL enjoys a deep and long-standing relationship with France, rooted in decades of collaboration. From the Mirage programme to today’s engagements with aerospace leaders like SAFRAN, Airbus, Hexcel, and MBDA, HAL has sourced critical engine technologies, composite materials, and missile systems from its French partners. These relationships have matured into strategic alliances, now expanding into civil MRO with the Airbus A320 and co-development possibilities. The trust and technical synergy between Indian and French aerospace sectors—backed by strong diplomatic relations—continue to make France one of HAL’s most valued and forward-looking international collaborators.
ADU. HAL has traditionally been a military aviation leader. What about it’s foray into civil aviation?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. We’re consciously increasing our civil share. The ALH Dhruv is undergoing civil certification with DGCA and should be approved by the end of the year. It’s a twin-engine helicopter suited for offshore and general civil use. The Dornier 228, now called the Hindustan 228 (H228), has already been civil-certified. We’ve delivered a few to Guyana, and one is operating with Alliance Air in Northeast India, serving regional routes.
ADU. Has HAL ever thought of manufacturing large size commercial jets?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. We’re exploring the 40- to 100-seater segment. That’s a key space for regional connectivity. We are working with NAL on design, but it’s a long-term project. In parallel, we are evaluating partnerships for co-development or licensed production. We already have capacity in Kanpur, where we produce the Dornier, and it can be expanded for new platforms.
ADU. What stood out to you at this edition of the Paris Air Show?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. The exposure to next-gen manufacturing technologies—especially robotics and automation. We met companies we hadn’t encountered before, especially from Europe and the US. It opens up new ideas for efficiency, scale, and precision in aerospace manufacturing. That’s the true benefit of shows like these.
ADU. Has there been interest from international military delegations at the show?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. We haven’t showcased aircraft here this time, so our engagement has been more with companies and suppliers. At Aero India earlier this year, we had a strong presence with 80+ delegations and flying demos of the LCA and helicopters. That was a major international engagement for us.
ADU. HAL has tie ups with engine makers. How are these partnerships progressing?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. Yes, we continue our collaborations with GE, Safran, and Rolls-Royce. We’re not working with Pratt & Whitney at the moment, but we have active partnerships with the other three major players for engines and systems integration.
ADU. Would you like to add something?
Dr. D.K. Sunil. These events are a great opportunity to step away from day-to-day operations, explore new technologies, and connect with global peers. It has been a very interesting time at Le Bourget. We have had two basic ideas in coming here, one is to just talk to all our partners on everyday issues like supplies and future business and the second is we are also actively encouraging them to come to India and manufacture and put up a plant. Atmanirbharta is the other agenda that we have. So, we have talked to companies and we have offered that we will help them with the state governments and with the Government of India to navigate and get whatever clearances. So, it will have two effects, one is it will ease our supply chain because we would have something locally manufactured, the amount of indigenous content goes up, secondly for them it becomes a base for exporting out of India, which many countries are doing today.
At the Paris Air Show 2025, HAL reaffirmed its role not just as India’s aerospace major but as a global partner in establishing India’s aviation ecosystem. HAL is expanding into civil certification, commercial aircraft development, and international MRO collaborations, especially with France. With solid infrastructure, experienced talent, and enduring global partnerships, HAL is poised to play a major role in shaping the future of aviation—both within India and beyond.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena
