Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Sunabeda, Koraput district, today aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft.
Landing at the Sunabeda helipad, he was warmly received by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and senior defense and civil officials amidst strict security arrangements.
During his high-profile visit, the Defence Minister toured Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) key defence manufacturing unit. A major highlight of the visit was laying the foundation stone for a new production facility dedicated to Shakti engines. Built with an investment of approximately Rs 218 crore, this new production line will significantly boost manufacturing capacity for indigenous helicopter platforms, including the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).
In addition to the foundation stone laying, Mr Singh participated in a landmark event celebrating HAL Koraput Division’s 2,000th aero-engine delivery. This milestone highlights nearly six decades of HAL Koraput’s vital contributions to India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing. The visit also featured a review of operations related to Sukhoi-30 MKI engines and discussions centred around self-reliance in national defence production.
Held in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and top HAL executives, the visit marks a major step forward in strengthening India’s defence manufacturing capabilities and fostering self-sufficiency (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the aerospace sector.
