New Delhi: In a move to provide India’s defence ecosystem with new capabilities and cost effective solutions in the market, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has entered into an MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert Civil (Passenger) aircraft to Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) aircraft in India.

HAL in a statement on April 6 said that under the pact, the company will convert pre-owned Civil (Passenger) aircraft into air refuelling aircraft with cargo and transport capabilities.

According to the statement, the MoU will facilitate HAL and IAI’s decades’ long expertise in developing, manufacturing and producing leading defence platforms. The scope of MoU also covers “passenger to freighter aircraft” conversion along with MMTT conversions.

“We are glad to join hands with our long standing partner IAI in this venture of MMTT conversion business which is one of the strategic diversification avenues identified by HAL”, said HAL CMD, R Madhavan.

President IAI and CEO, Boaz Levy, said: “We are proud to come together with our counterparts to bring our best value MMTT solution in India, while utilising local resources to manufacture and market the platform. By collaborating with HAL and bringing conversion directly to India, we are supporting the ‘Make in India’ campaign”.