BEML exploring foray into helicopter, small aircraft assembly

"When you are in aerospace (business), it (assembly of helicopters and small aircraft) can’t be out of your radar," BEML Chairman and Managing Director V R S Natarajan said, adding, "We are looking at the possibility."

According to Natarajan, the Bangalore-headquartered Mini-Ratna company has made a set of landing gears for helicopters of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and is already supplying some body parts of fighter aircraft.

BEML is now setting up a facility for fabricating titanium metal, aluminium and composites – things used in manufacturing helicopters.

To start with, the company is seeking to position itself as a 'single-point' for products for ground-support, and those related to hydraulics, lift and ladder and also strengthen its business of manufacturing of aero-plane parts.

Natarajan said it's premature to discuss the time frame for achieving this, as the proposal was only at exploration stage. However, he said, it was clear that assembly of helicopters and small aircraft a logical step forward for BEML.

"Ultimate objective is to move towards that only",he said. He said the BEML has acquired 25-acres in a special economic zone at Devenahally on Bangalore outskirts where it would design, manufacture and roll out aero and space products.

Aerospace products business is expected to contribute close to Rs ten crore to the overall turnover of BEML in the current financial year, but in the next three years, this segment is projected to grow to Rs 100 crore.

The company is also in discussion with Indian Space Research Organisation for supplying components for its space programmes.