HAL's R&D capabilities set for a boost with new manual

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s largest defence company by revenue, order book, and market capitalisation, is set to enhance its ability to design and engineer military aerospace systems with the roll-out of a new research and development (R&D) manual.

- BHASWAR KUMAR

HAL conducted the first engine ground run of full-scale demonstrator of CATS Warrior in January

(X/HALHQBLR)

Aimed at aligning HAL with global aerospace standards, the manual will be officially unveiled in New Delhi on Monday in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

HAL has been benchmarking its annual R&D spending — currently around ₹2,500 crore — against global aerospace majors, which typically invest 7-8 per cent of their revenues, company sources said, requesting anonymity.

They added that this could be increased to 10 per cent in the coming years, depending on the volume of projects secured. HAL’s board has earmarked nearly ₹17,000 crore from internal resources for R&D investment across multiple programmes over the next few years.

“HAL has already taken the necessary steps and will fully implement the manual’s directives immediately after its unveiling,” said one of the sources.