Picture courtesy - HAL
Bengaluru, India: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran Helicopter Engines have signed the final contract with their joint venture, SAFHAL Helicopter Engines Pvt. Ltd., for the design, development, manufacture, supply and lifecycle support of a new-generation high-power helicopter engine in the 3,500–4,000 shp class.
Named “Aravalli”, the turboshaft engine has been selected to power HAL’s upcoming 13-ton Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and its naval derivative, the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH). The contract marks a significant step in India’s efforts to build indigenous capabilities in advanced aerospace propulsion.
The agreement was signed by Ajay Kumar Shrivastava, Director, Engineering, Research & Development, HAL, and Olivier Savin, Director, SAFHAL Helicopter Engines and Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Safran Helicopter Engines. The signing ceremony was attended by Ravi K, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL, and Cédric Goubet, CEO, Safran Helicopter Engines.
The Aravalli programme builds on a partnership between HAL and Safran that stretches back several decades. Safran helicopter engines have powered HAL platforms from the Artouste engines used on the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters to the Shakti engine family, which currently powers the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).
The new programme takes this relationship into a higher-power class and involves the joint design and development of a state-of-the-art turboshaft engine tailored to the requirements of medium-lift rotorcraft.
According to HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K, the programme will provide a foundation for powering next-generation Indian helicopter platforms while supporting the development of a domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem.
Safran Helicopter Engines CEO Cédric Goubet described the programme as a new chapter in the strategic relationship between France and India. Importantly, he noted that this is the first time Safran Helicopter Engines is undertaking co-development of an engine in this power class.
SAFHAL Helicopter Engines, the joint venture between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines SAS, will combine the engineering, manufacturing and technology capabilities of its two parent companies.
The programme will cover advanced engine design, manufacturing, testing and product support, with the partners targeting performance, reliability, maintainability and operational effectiveness in line with international aerospace standards.
The collaboration is also expected to strengthen India’s domestic capabilities across the broader aerospace supply chain, including advanced manufacturing, engineering and testing.
While the initial application is focused on the IMRH and DBMRH, the Aravalli engine could eventually find applications in the civil helicopter market. Potential areas include offshore transportation, utility operations and VVIP transport.
The programme is also expected to support the expansion of India’s indigenous Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) ecosystem, creating opportunities for local capability development across the engine lifecycle.
The contract comes amid a broader push to increase domestic capability in critical aerospace technologies. For HAL, developing a locally supported high-power engine is strategically important as India advances its next generation of medium-lift rotorcraft.
For Safran, the programme reinforces its long-term industrial commitment to India, encompassing manufacturing, engineering, R&D and MRO activities.
With the Aravalli programme, the HAL-Safran partnership moves beyond established engine supply and into co-development of a new-generation propulsion system, potentially creating a technological foundation for future Indian and international rotorcraft programmes.
