NEW DELHI: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, a state owned company has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rolls Royce, a global leader in aero plane engines and systems, to tie up for engine component design and manufacturing in India.

The MoU was signed in Bangalore; this will provide two companies a broader partner in the field of aerospace design and could potentially include a variety of work in India relating to manufacture and assembly of components for Rolls Royce engines across various aerospace segments, HAL press release said.

HAL currently manufactures under license the Rolls` Adour engine for the Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The Adour-871, to be manufactured by HAL, would also power the Hawk advanced jet trainers for India whose deliveries are likely to start next year, it said.

HAL has been a contributor of ring forgings to Rolls Royce for its Trent family of engines and is also involved in repair and overhaul of several Rolls engines like Avon, Dart, Gnome and Adour.

Rolls Royce and US-based Bell Helicopter Textron are also partnering on a proposal to the Indian Army for its Shen Helicopter Programme, for which it has offered the Bell-407 helicopter powered by Rolls model 250 engines. The Shen programme involves the purchase of up to 197 helicopters and a significant number of engines to be manufactured by HAL.

The Rolls Royce, which has had a 70-year-relationship with India, has set up its new
wholly-owned subsidiary in Bangalore for the growing volume of engineering work it is
sub-contracting to India.