The newly built Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Strategic Electronics Factory will be dedicated to the nation by Union Defence Minister A K Antony in Kasargod on Saturday.

The factory, which is located at Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) Industrial Park, at Seethangoli, 12 kilometres away from Kasargod, will produce advanced avionics for aircraft and helicopters.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the production facilities on the occasion.

The foundation stone for the construction of the factory buildings was laid by A K Antony four years back, on August 23, 2008. The Kerala Government has allotted 196 acre of land for the factory. The first phase of the factory has been setup at a cost of Rs 66 crore.

Presently, seven buildings are dedicated for various activities like production, administration, technical services, materials management, security, medical, canteen and for government agencies (Air Force and DGAQA).

A sub-station has also been set up. The factory will produce airborne special purpose computers like mission computer, display processor, radar computers and open architect mission computer for SU-30, LCA and MiG-27.

The factory will further expand in phase-II to undertake the manufacture of avionics for medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) like automatic electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare suite and communication and navigation equipment.

The facilities and expertise acquired at this factory for advanced avionics of MMRCA would be used for various upcoming projects like fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA), Light Utility Helicopter, Light Combat Helicopter, Medium Lift Helicopter and unmanned Aerial vehicles.

HAL Chiarman R K Tyagi, Defence Production Secretary R K Mathur, Kasargod MP P Karunakaran, Manjeshwar MLA P B Abdul Razak, Kasargod MLA N A Nellikkunnu, Kerala Minister for Industries and IT P K Kunhalikutty, former minister of industries Elamaram Kareem will also be present during the inaugural function.