Expansion of HAL facility in Kasargod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Strategic electronics manufacturing venture of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is nearing completion in Kasargod, will add new ancillary units for aircraft components.This new facility may be expanded to include new projects arising out of the new aircraft programmes and converted into a full-fledged division in future. The proposed project is coming up at Kinfra Industrial Park at an area of 200 acres of land. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 200 crore. Ramakrishna, deputy general manager, HAL, said that the construction of the building in Kasargod was nearing completion. About 80 per cent of the work was over and it was expected to be completed by the end of December, he said. He said that after the completion of the first phase, the expansion plans will be rolled out. The next phase will be for aircraft components for military aircraft. It is also proposed to undertake the assembly, testing and repair of other airborne computers, namely Open Architecture Computer, for other new aircraft under production and  the fifth generation aircraft and futuristic aircraft upgrades, he said. The Strategic Electronics Manufacturing Factory in Kasargod is planned as an extension of the Hyderabad-based Avionics Division. The new facility here will have assembly, test  and manufacturing facilities for a wide variety of electronic equipment used in the areas of communication, radar, navigation, computers and electronic warfare. These products are meant for various aircraft and helicopters of the Armed Forces.  Apart from these, it will also meet the requirements of avionics for space applications. In addition to the assembly, testing and manufacture of the above mentioned types of systems, it also provides repair-maintenance support to these avionics which are fitted across various aircraft platforms.The requirement of these systems will continue over the next six years and beyond.The Kasargod unit will enhance the operational efficiency, improve delivery schedules and lead to better  customer satisfaction.