Bengaluru: At Aero India 2023, Foundry & Forge (F&F) Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Saarloha and Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 15 for development and production of aerospace grade steel alloys.
This MoU also accentuates development, certification & prove out and application of new material for use in production of aircrafts, engines, and accessories. The MoU was signed by M S Venkatesh (Executive Director, F&F, HAL), Guru Biswal (CEO – BFL Aerospace division) and R K Goyal (Director – Saarloha), in the presence of senior officials from HAL, Saarloha & BFL.
M S Venkatesh (Executive Director, F&F, HAL) said that the development of Aerospace grade raw materials in the Country will help HAL in maintaining its commitment to Armed forces and will also reduce nation’s dependency on foreign OEM’s with respect to raw materials. A step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat, this MoU will open many other avenues for not only HAL & Saarloha, but many other companies which may be benefitted due to development of Aerospace grade steel bars in Country. HAL has embarked on a Journey to ensure that most of its raw material requirements can be fulfilled domestically & today’s MoU is a step towards the same.
R K Goyal (Director, Saarloha) said that this initiative will create a unique synergy of capabilities to accelerate the aerospace grade steel alloys development and production in India. Aerospace grade steel alloys production& component qualification process contain stringent testing parameters which also includes long tests on actual operations. This collaboration would be a unique opportunity to speed up the qualification processes. Manufacturing of specialty steel would play a significant role in realizing the success of national aerospace and defense programs under “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative and this MoU is a noteworthy step towards the same.
Guru Biswal (CEO-Aerospace Division, Bharat Forge) said that “Developing and Qualifying Aero grade Alloys shall benefit the Aerospace manufacturing eco system in the country and make them more competitive globally. This MoU with HAL is a testimony of the commitments from both the partners to work for an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. It shall bring in larger alignment between us and create a roadmap to support all the present and future Aircraft and Engine programs of HAL.”
There are very few equivalent approved/qualified domestic suppliers for various types of Aerospace grade steel alloys used in Aircraft applications. Due to this such alloys are getting imported which creates dependency on foreign steel, manufactures. Hence, accelerated efforts are needed to develop and manufacture such steel alloys in India through collaboration.
The usage of such specialty alloys in Aerospace is going to increase multifold, especially in fighter Aircrafts/Helicopters. This indigenisation initiative could also pave the way for the increased utilisation of ‘Make in India’ steels in other related sector such as space & defence.
