From Shakti to Aravalli: India's helicopter engine journey takes shape

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated a second production line for Shakti helicopter engines at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Koraput division, an event that also marked the delivery of the facility's 2,000th aero-engine. The Rs 218 crore facility, expected to be fully operational by 2028-29, will produce up to 100 Shakti engines annually, powering indigenous platforms including the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand and the upcoming Light Utility Helicopter. Singh congratulated the engineers, technicians and scientists behind the milestone, calling it a significant moment in India's aerospace journey, and urged that Koraput evolve into a broader aerospace propulsion ecosystem rather than remain focused solely on engine manufacturing.India's helicopter-engine capability has steadily matured over the decades, moving from licensed production of foreign engines towards genuine joint development and, increasingly, indigenous design.