HAL sales soar to Rs 17,406 cr in FY 2017

State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) on Saturday posted highest ever sales of Rs 17,406 crore for the fiscal 2017, registering 4% annual growth from Rs 16,736 crore in the previous fiscal.

The company’s profit-before-tax for the fiscal under review is flat at Rs 3,294 crore, registering a 0.18% growth compared with last fiscal profit of Rs 3,288 crore.  According to  HAL Chairaman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju, it is business as usual for HAL as the company is doing well on expected lines.

“We paid Rs 800 crore to the government by interim dividend. This is in addition to Rs 162 crore paid to the government as dividend tax,” said Raju. Some of the highlights of the fiscal 2017 include the production of 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft in Phase-IV, 24 advanced light helicopters, overhauling of 197 aircraft/helicopters, 473 engines and production of 178 new aerostructures.

HAL offical sources stated that the company received orders worth Rs 21,000 crore that included 12 Do-228 aircraft for the Indian Navy, 32 advanced light helicopters for the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard and AL-31 FP engines for Su 30 MKI.

“The fiscal also witnessed maiden flight of Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) and light utility helicopter (LUH) in addition to carriage trails of light combat aircraft (LCA) with fixed air to air refueling probe,” he said.

According to HAL sources, the current fiscal for the company is very important as it is expecting more business from ISRO, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), engine manufacturing, dronier aircraft production.

 “HAL has already developed  ‘Crew Module Fairing Assembly’ for the ‘Human Space Flight Program’ to ISRO. It is a shroud assembly which houses the module and forms bottom most structure of crew escape system,” said sources.

The company is also banking heavily on the new order book for UAVs from its potential customers like North East Frontier Railways, Southern  Railways, Karnataka Forest Department, Andhra Pradesh Police Department and CRPF.

“We have already received positive feedback from these potential customers for Mini UAVs which are in the 8kg category. We are expecting greater momentum on this UAV business going forward,” said the company sources. The company has a combined order book of Rs 10,200 crore for the current fiscal which will really help expand revenues.

“This include 130 AL 31 SP engine for 230MKN worth around 8000 crore. HAL has also 12 dronier aircraft project for Indian Navy worth around Rs 2,200 crore,” said HAL sources.