HAL, Safran Aircraft Engine Ink Pact to Produce Turbine Ring Forgings for LEAP Engine Programme

State-run defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran Aircraft Engines on Wednesday signed a long-term agreement for production and supply of turbine ring forgings in superalloys for the CFM LEAP engine programme, officials said.

The multi-year contract marks a “significant milestone” for the partnership between HAL and Safran Aircraft Engines, an official statement said.

The contract was signed by Praveen B, General Manager, Foundry and Forge Division, HAL, and Dominique Dupuy, Senior Vice President, Purchasing, Safran Aircraft Engines, in the presence of Ravi K, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL, and Jayakrishnan S, CEO (Bengaluru complex), HAL, at the Farnborough International Airshow on Wednesday.

Under the agreement, HAL will manufacture near-net shape ring forgings for the LEAP engine at its state-of-the-art Ring Rolling facility in Bengaluru.

Forging is a fundamental manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using compressive forces.

In a post on X, HAL said, “Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Safran Aircraft Engines signed a long-term agreement for the production and supply of turbine ring forgings in superalloys for the CFM LEAP engine programme.” Superalloy ring forgings are used in elevated-temperature applications of the rotating section of the aero-engine and are critical to engine performance and reliability, the statement said.

Ravi K said, “HAL and Safran share a longstanding and trusted partnership that has evolved over several decades. The signing of this long-term contract reflects the growing confidence of global aerospace OEMs in HAL's technological capabilities and manufacturing excellence.” “By contributing to the LEAP engine programme, we are expanding our footprint in the international civil aerospace market and demonstrating our ability to manufacture complex aero-engine components to global standards,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

This partnership with Safran represents not only a "significant business opportunity" but also an important step towards developing advanced manufacturing technologies and capabilities that will support future aero-engine programmes in India, he added.

Dominique Dupuy said, “We are very enthusiastic about continuing this partnership with HAL. This cooperation is fully aligned with our strategy to develop a supply chain that is as locally integrated as we ramp up LEAP engine production to meet the growing demand."