HAL and Rolls-Royce announce manufacturing JV in India

BANGALORE: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the country's premier aerospace company, and Rolls-Royce, the global power systems firm, today signed an agreement to create a manufacturing joint venture here.

The new company, a 50:50 joint venture between the city-based HAL and Rolls-Royce, will undertake the manufacture of compressor shroud rings, a release said.

Construction of a new purpose-built production facility, incorporating the latest in modern manufacturing techniques, will commence this year with component production beginning in 2012, it added.

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak said: "HAL and Rolls-Royce 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, following on from the production of Adour Mk811 engines for the Jaguar."

According to Sir John Rose, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, "This marks an exciting new phase of our long-standing partnership with HAL and underscores our commitment to India and the aerospace industry here."

"India is a country that is full of potential for Rolls-Royce and we look forward to continuing to develop our business here in the future," he added.

Rolls-Royce is committed to developing new, advanced manufacturing technologies and skills in India and, through this venture, will also be creating highly skilled new jobs in the Indian aerospace industry, it said.

Source Indiacar.com Source : Economic Times (3/30/2010)