The Sukhoi-30MKI assembly line in Nashik built 11 fighters this year





By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 2nd April 19





Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has faced concerted criticism over the past year from both the defence ministry and the Indian Air Force (IAF), has announced a record turnover of over Rs 19,400 crores (provisional and unaudited) for the financial year that ended on March 31.





This amounts to a six per cent revenue growth over the previous year’s turnover of Rs 18,284 crores. That comfortably beat the revenue growth of 3.8 per cent during 2017-18.





However, the IAF still owes HAL about Rs 20,000 crore in unpaid dues for aircraft delivered and overhauled and for milestone payments due, Business Standard learns.





“The IAF owes HAL money for aircraft, helicopters and services that we have already delivered. Current dues are Rs 15,700 crore and will rise to Rs 20,000 crore by March 31.” Madhavan’s projection has turned out to be accurate. In January, HAL had to take a bank loan of Rs 781 crore to pay salaries to its 29,000 employees. At that time, HAL chairman R Madhavan told Business Standard:





A statement from HAL on Monday says: “In FY 2018-19, HAL has produced 41 new aircraft/helicopters and 98 new engines and has carried out overhaul of 213 aircraft/helicopters and 540 engines.”





HAL sources say they built 11 Sukhoi-30MKI and seven Tejas fighters in the year just gone by, as well as five Dornier-228 aircraft, three Cheetal light helicopters and 15 Dhruv advanced light helicopters, totaling 41 aircraft.





In addition, it has overhauled 15 Sukhoi-30MKI (up from 11 the previous year) and several Mirage 2000 and Jaguar fighters, Kiran trainers and a large number of helicopters.





Amongst the research & development (R&D) projects under way in HAL are the Tejas Mark 1A fighter. HAL is also claiming a breakthrough with the HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft, which it expects to certify this year.





“HAL’s R&D projects are on track and are tailor made for the requirement of the armed forces,” the company stated on Monday.





HAL said it “expects continued ‘Excellent’ MoU rating for the FY 2018-19 from Government of India for meeting all the relevant parameters related to its performance.”





Senior HAL executives say that, more than an “Excellent” rating, the company requires cash to meet its monthly running expenditure of Rs 1,300-1,400 crore.





Traditionally cash-rich HAL has, over the last five years, transferred Rs 11,024 crore to the government.





This included Rs 6,393 crore to the government in an “equity buy back scheme. HAL made this payment in two tranches – Rs 5,265 crore in 2015-16 and another Rs 1,128 crore in 2017-18.





During this period, HAL also paid the government dividend and taxes worth Rs 4,631 crore: Rs 1,041 crore for 2013-14; Rs 576 crore for 2014-15; Rs 755 crore for 2015-16; Rs 963 crore for 2016-17 and Rs 1,295 crore for 2017-18.



