Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with one of India’s leading defense companies, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), to convert Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) in India.
The local MMTT conversions will utilize India’s local defense ecosystem and support India’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. In addition to MMTT conversions, the MOU also includes commercial passenger-to-freighter conversions.
Building on over four decades of IAI’s experience converting aircraft across the world, HAL will convert pre-owned aircrafts into cargo configuration with air refueling and transport capacity. This is a joint effort to provide India’s defense ecosystem with new capabilities and the most cost-effective and best-value solution available on the market. The aircraft life extension and full life-circle maintenance will be carried out by HAL in India. The MOU will combine IAI’s and HAL’s decades-long expertise in developing, manufacturing, and producing leading defense platforms.
R. Madhavan, CMD HAL: "We are glad to join hands with our long standing partner IAI in this venture of MMTT conversion business which is one of the strategic diversification avenue identified by HAL. This is a step forward not only for HAL and IAI but for the two friendly nations as well in furthering bi-lateral relations."
Boaz Levy, IAI President and CEO: “We are proud to come together with our counterparts to bring our best-value MMTT solution to India, while utilizing the local resources to manufacture and market the platform. By collaborating with HAL and bringing MMTT conversion directly to India, we are supporting the important ‘Make in India’ campaign and relying on HAL and its supply chain ecosystem, manpower, and capabilities to create advanced platforms. IAI has over a dozen customers worldwide for its MMTT, and partnering with HAL will open the Indian market to the converted platform. We look forward to many more years of fruitful partnerships and cooperation on projects with our friends in India’s defense industry.”
