The Hindu Business Line : HAL, EADS sign pact

Old partners Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and defence and aerospace major EADS on Friday signed an MoU to explore new horizons jointly on a long term, including joint marketing strategies. The areas were not specified. A release said the two would expand their co-operation into new market segments.

In the coming months, they would jointly analyse mid-term and long-term strategies of the aerospace business and explore potential win-win partnerships, it said. The HAL's Chairman, Mr Ashok K. Baweja, and the EADS CEO, Dr Tom Enders, signed the MoU in Bangalore.

Export Market

"HAL could benefit from teaming EADS to accelerate its development and gain access to export market through joint marketing agreements. This memorandum will define the products for which HAL and EADS will (combine) their efforts," said Mr A.K. Saxena, Managing Director, HAL Bangalore Complex.

"HAL and EADS are already working together to manufacture helicopters and passenger jets," said Dr Enders. "We appreciate the excellent level of skills in design and manufacturing, which make HAL a valuable partner for global co-operation in aerospace and defence," he added.

EADS group company Eurocopter last year decided to outsource to HAL airframe production for all its Ecureuil type helicopters. The first airframe will be delivered by HAL by the end of this year.

Eurocopter has been associated with licensed production of the Army's Cheetah/Chetak fleet; co-development of the light helicopter Dhruv.

It is willing to team up with HAL for the development of the proposed 10-tonne helicopter, the release said.

HAL has a contract to supply 600 doors for Airbus A320 and has delivered over 300 till date. The production of A340 emergency doors is due to start in the near future.

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