A comprehensive review by the Committee on Public Undertakings (CPU) has flagged persistent delays in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) gas turbine engine development programme, with the panel cautioning that slow approvals for essential testing infrastructure continue to hinder progress.
HAL has been developing two aero-engines under its gas turbine engine programme – “a 25 kilo newton engine” for Intermediate Jet Trainer-class aircraft and a turboshaft engine for helicopters – sanctioned for Rs 441.41 crore, but with Stage II “ongoing since 2018 with no completion in sight.”
The Committee cited delays arising from the “failure to secure critical components on time, due to procurement bottlenecks and delayed approvals for test-bed construction,” as well as land clearance issues.
The Defence Ministry said material research “is being taken up by DMRL (DRDO) and MIDHANI,” with HAL placing orders of Rs 757.82 crore on MIDHANI. While acknowledging HAL’s efforts to partner with DRDO, MIDHANI and global engine makers, the Committee criticised the absence of a clear roadmap for critical testing infrastructure.
“The Ministry’s reply is interim in nature, as the core issue of developing dedicated test-bed infrastructure remains unresolved… The Committee, therefore, desires that the Ministry of Defence expedite this analysis and furnish a definitive action plan, with clear timelines and funding arrangements,” the panel said in its report. The panel emphasised that a “gap analysis… is a critical first step, but it is not the solution itself.”
The Twenty-Sixth Report of the CPU – presented to Parliament in December 2025 and chaired by Baijayant Panda – pulls up the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for failing to resolve long-pending gaps in test-bed facilities crucial for engine certification and development. The Committee comprises senior MPs from both Houses, including Tariq Anwar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Milind Deora, John Brittas and Bhagwat Karad.
Indigenisation goals
The CPU cautioned that unless the Defence Ministry urgently operationalises the long-pending test-bed facility, the programme risks further delays, undermining the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat plans in strategic aerospace systems. The Committee has asked the Ministry to keep it informed of progress and furnish final action-taken replies expeditiously.
Delayed approvals
The Committee reiterated concerns first raised in its Tenth Report, which underscored that the engine project had suffered time and cost overruns due to procurement hurdles and administrative delays. “One of the primary reasons for the delay is the failure to secure critical components on time, due to procurement bottlenecks and delayed approvals for test-bed construction,” it noted. It added that “land clearance approvals were delayed due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, adding more than three years to the project timeline.”
The prolonged delay has forced HAL to write off Rs 159.23 crore as costs it can no longer recover.
Indigenous challenges
Responding to the Committee, the Ministry highlighted the complexity of the project, stating, “HAL took up R&D of two engines pro-actively to become self-reliant… The critical components for such an engine are being designed and developed for the first time in the country and there has been a delay from the estimated time in redesigning them.” It further noted that engine technologies remain closely guarded internationally: “Very few countries in the world have matured gas turbine engine manufacturing technology and they do not transfer the complete technology.”
HAL has ongoing international partnerships – such as its joint venture SAFHAL with Safran Helicopter Engines – and domestic orders placed on MIDHANI for indigenous raw materials. The Ministry added that “a gap analysis of ground facilities for testing of airborne systems is being carried out.”
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