India’s HAL Pursues UAV Market

Eyeing a potential $2 billion domestic market, India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), which recently carved out a separate unmanned air systems (UAS) division as part of a comprehensive diversification drive, wants to prepare platforms quickly to meet a raft of current and expected requirements from the armed forces, police and paramilitary.

The Indian navy is on the lookout for medium- and high-altitude/long-endurance (MALE and HALE) UAS. And the Indian army and air force are both eager for more short-range unmanned air systems. For the first time, the coast guard and paramilitary forces here are looking to establish their own UAS squadrons for dedicated operations related to coastal and internal security. The country’s intelligence agencies, including the National Technical Research Organization and Research & Analysis Wing also operate UAVs and want to add capabilities, preferably indigenous, or Indian-led.

HAL has conducted a market assessment and is sending a request for expression of interest (EOI) to international aerospace companies seeking the joint development, manufacture and marketing of three UAS types: a fixed-wing MALE variant; a fixed-wing, short-range tactical model; and a mini-UAS for infantry, paramilitary and special forces use. Sources connected to HAL say the manufacturer would be willing to partner in the large-scale modification of existing platforms for Indian requirements. HAL already is teaming with Russia on two current projects: the fifth-generation fighter aircraft and multi-role transport aircraft.

“HAL is expanding its reach to cover new product lines. As the UAS business in India and other countries is expanding, there is a need for collaboration to face the competitive scenario,” the company tells prospective partners in its recently published request. HAL hopes to elicit interest from Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, EADS, Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense, BAE Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Saab and Dassault, says a HAL executive familiar with the effort.

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