HAL Medium Lift Helicopter

HAL is planning to develop a Medium Lift Helicopter in the 10-15 ton class. It is currently looking for foreign partners either from Russia or France-based Eurocopter. HAL has plans of producing around 350 medium lift helicopters. The 10-tonne helicopter would be offered to the Indian Navy to meet its requirement for heavy-lift helicopters. The Indian Navy had earlier refused to accept the HAL Dhruv, as it did not meet its requirement.

In July 2009, HAL cancelled an active tender for the co-development of the helicopter for which Eurocopter and Mil Helicopters had been shortlisted as potential technology and investment partners. HAL informed the two companies that the tender had to be scrapped because the qualitiative requirements of the armed forces have substantially changed. A fresh tender is scheduled to be out in September.