New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and French engine manufacturer Safran Aircraft Engines (SAE) signed a long-term contract for development and supply of critical engines parts for LEAP Engine Program.
This coincides with IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh raising concerns about delays in the delivery of the ‘Tejas’ by HAL. In response, HAL, the maker of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’, has assured that deliveries to the IAF will begin soon, as the technical issues, including engines, have now been addressed. HAL chairman and managing director D K Sunil said, “We have now promised that we will have all the structures ready. We have conveyed this. We are building this. And once the engines are available, this will start rolling out.”
What’s in the deal
The latest contract between HAL and SAE, the world’s leading Aircraft engine maker, was inked during Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The deal is aimed to supply turbine forged parts for their LEAP engines.
An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed between the two companies in October 2023 to foster industrial cooperation in commercial engine parts manufacturing, in line with the government’s “Make in India” policy. This is the first contract under this industrial cooperation.
As per the terms of the contract, HAL will make forged parts for the LEAP Engine at its advanced Ring Rolling facility in the Foundry & Forge Division in Bengaluru, aiding the ramp-up of the LEAP program to meet global airline demands.
The deal was signed by Anil Kumar, General Manager, Foundry & Forge Division of HAL, in presence of Jayakrishnan.S, CEO (Bangalore Complex), HAL and Dominique Dupuy, Purchasing VP of Safran Aircraft Engines.
“Safran and HAL are having a long-standing relationship enriched over the past few decades through the joint development of the “Shakti” helicopter engine, which also paved the way for co-design and co-development of the IMRH engine. We are delighted to take this collaboration to the next level and support their LEAP engine production with critical Nickel Ring forgings”, said Dr DK Sunil, Chairman & Managing Director, HAL.
On his part, Dominique Dupuy, Safran Aircraft Engines’ Purchasing VP, said, “We are very enthusiastic about continuing this partnership with HAL.” He added, “We are perfectly in line with the objectives set out in our 2023 agreement for the production of forged parts.”
Modi, Macron welcome air, maritime cooperation
On Tuesday, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris, he and French President Macron hailed the continuation of the cooperation of air and maritime assets in line with the ambitious Defence Industrial Roadmap agreed in 2024. The leaders also recalled the deep and longstanding defence cooperation between the two countries as part of the Strategic Partnership. They commended progress made in collaboration in construction of Scorpene submarines in India. Both leaders praised the commissioning of the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene-class project, INS Vaghsheer, on January 15 this year.
PM Modi and President Macron praised the deep collaboration between the Safran group and its Indian counterparts. PM Modi also extended an invite to the French Army to explore the Pinaka MBLR, stressing that acquiring this system would be a vital step in boosting Indo-French defence relations. Besides, President Macron hailed India’s inclusion as an observer in the Eurodrone MALE programme managed by OCCAR, another important step in the growing strength of the defence equipment collaboration between the two nations.
