Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will mark the delivery of the two-thousandth aero-engine by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Koraput Division, in Odisha tomorrow.

The Defence Ministry said that the event will mark nearly six decades of HAL Koraput’s contribution to India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing capabilities and operational readiness of the Armed Forces. The event will also highlight the establishment of a second production line for Shakti engines, with an investment of over two hundred crore rupees. The additional capacity will support the growing requirements of indigenous helicopter platforms, including the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and Prachand Light Combat Helicopter.

The event underlines the Government’s vision of transforming India from a buyer of defence equipment into a designer, developer and manufacturer of defence systems. The Ministry said that building indigenous aero-engine capability is a critical component of this vision, given the strategic importance and technological complexity of propulsion systems.