Tech Desk: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is set to significantly ramp up its HAL AL-31FP engine production, aiming to manufacture 50 turbofan engines annually by 2030. This ambitious goal, a substantial increase from the current 30 units per year, is critical for sustaining the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) formidable Su-30MKI fighter fleet.

This strategic boost aligns with a monumental ₹26,000 crore contract signed in September 2024 to procure 240 AL-31FP engines. With over 259 Su-30MKI jets in active service, a significant portion of these frontline aircraft, rapidly inducted in the mid-2010s, are now approaching operational milestones requiring their second set of powerplants. The increased production ensures these vital fighters remain combat-ready as original engines reach their service life limits.

To meet this impending demand, HAL is expanding infrastructure at its Koraput division in Odisha, where these engines are built from raw materials. This push not only aims to build a comfortable reserve inventory for the IAF but also heavily emphasizes indigenisation. Currently, local content stands at over 54%, with plans to increase this to 63% by the end of the current delivery program, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.

The Russian-origin AL-31FP engine, renowned for its thrust-vectoring control, is central to the Su-30MKI’s agility. A steady domestic supply directly supports the IAF’s ₹65,000 crore “Super Sukhoi” modernization program, which includes integrating indigenous Virupaksha AESA radar and advanced EW suites. Industry experts view HAL’s enhanced HAL AL-31FP engine production as a necessary strategic pivot, ensuring India’s primary fighters remain a dominant force in the region by mitigating global supply disruptions.