On
1 March 2024, a contract for RD-33 aeroengines for MiG-29 aircraft was signed
with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost of Rs 5,249.72 crore. These engines
will be produced by the Koraput Division of HAL and are expected
to fulfill the need of Indian Air Force (IAF) to sustain the
operational capability of the MiG-29 fleet for the residual service life. The
aero-engines will be manufactured under Transfer of Technology (TOT) license
from the Russian OEM. The programme will focus on indigenisation of several
high value critical components, which would help increase the indigenous
content of future Repair and Overhaul (ROH) tasks of RD-33 aeroengines.
India has
been an important partner of United Engine Corporation (UEC) for many years and
one of the key markets for the holding's products. Large scale cooperation
between the UEC and Indian partners is developing mainly through
military-technical cooperation. The large scale project is the ongoing supply
of technological kits of AL-31FP turbojet engines (installed on Su-30MKI
multirole fighters) within the framework of contracts previously concluded
through Rosoboronexport for their licensed production in India.
At an
event at New Delhi, which was organised by HAL some time ago, was attended by
representatives of the Indian Ministry of Defence, various branches of the
country's Armed Forces, a delegation of Rosoboronexport JSC and Russian
companies participating in military-technical cooperation programmes with
India. The official signing of the acceptance certificate between HAL and the
Indian Air Force of the 50th AL-31FP engine, manufactured according to one of the final phases of licensed production
(high level of development of serial production competence) took place.
Licensed production of AL-31FP engines is carried out at the HAL
Corporation branch in Koraput. The Indian side previously conducted long term
tests of engines in phases IV and V of licensed production, thereby confirming
the readiness of its production for the full cycle of manufacturing, assembly
and testing. Currently, all phases of licensed production of AL-31FP have been
mastered by the Indian side. Along with the organisation of licensed
production, HAL has fully launched the overhaul of AL-31FP engines and their
components.
Since
2005, about 130 specialists from various divisions of the Ufa UEC-UMPO have
been sent to HAL. Training and transfer of experience were carried out to
Indian specialists in mastering complex metallurgical, welding, production and
assembly operations, as well as testing of the AL-31FP. Many UEC-UMPO
specialists received recognition and words of gratitude from HAL management for
their contribution to the development of production, which allowed the Indian
customer to fulfill plans for the development and production of AL-31FP
engines. Some UEC-UMPO specialists were awarded orders, medals and certificates
of the Republic of India for their contribution to the development of
Russian-Indian relations.
In March
2017, UEC and HAL entered into a long-term cooperation contract during the
Russian-Indian military-industrial conference. The document defines the key
aspects of interaction between the parties in the aftersales service of
aircraft engines AL-31FP, RD-33 of various series, RD-33MK, R-25-300, R29B-300,
operated by the Indian Ministry of Defence.
