Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and the UK?s Rolls-Royce, a global power systems company, on Tuesday signed an agreement to set up a manufacturing joint venture company in Bangalore. The new entity, a 50:50 JV between HAL and Rolls-Royce, will manufacture compressor shroud rings. Construction of a new production facility, which is to incorporate the latest in modern manufacturing techniques, will commence in 2010. Component production is set to begin in 2012.
Said HAL chairman Ashok Nayak: ?Rolls-Royce and HAL have been strategic partners since 1956 when HAL started producing the Orpheus engine under licence. Since then, the partnership has flourished on key programmes like the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer’s Adour Mk871 engine and production of Adour Mk811 engines for Jaguar.??Working together, we have contributed to the development of the aerospace industry in India. This new manufacturing venture will further our common objectives by advancing value-added manufacturing in India,? he said.
According to Sir John Rose, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, ?India is extremely important to Rolls-Royce, and we are delighted to announce this new joint venture company with HAL. This marks a new phase of our long-standing partnership with HAL and underscores our commitment to the Indian aerospace industry. India is a country full of potential for Rolls-Royce and we look forward to continuing to develop our business here.?