ISRO Chairman S. Somanath inaugurated state-of-the-art propellant tank production and computer numerical control (CNC) machining facilities at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Aerospace Division, marking a significant boost in rocket manufacturing capacity.
The new facilities at HAL are poised to play a crucial role in meeting the increasing demands of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), particularly for the Launch Vehicle Mark3 (LVM3), India’s most powerful rocket. Currently, ISRO’s production capacity supports only two LVM3 launches annually, while the demand stands at six launches per year.
According to an HAL statement released on Wednesday, the inauguration of these facilities is expected to bridge this gap, enabling HAL to manufacture critical components to support the production of six LVM3 rockets per year.
S. Somanath emphasized the potential of HAL’s extensive capacities, suggesting that these should be leveraged for the greater benefit of both organizations. “HAL will play a larger role in ISRO’s future missions and should focus on emerging technologies, addressing design challenges, and undertaking end-to-end tasks to ease the pressure on ISRO,” he stated.
C. B. Ananthakrishnan, HAL’s Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge), highlighted the ongoing collaboration with ISRO, which he believes will accelerate human spaceflight missions and the development of Next-Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV). “There are significant opportunities to work with ISRO, and HAL is committed to further investments to unlock the full potential in space programs,” Ananthakrishnan said. He added that the day is not far off when space will become a significant vertical for HAL.
The new propellant tank production facility specializes in manufacturing high-performance fuel and oxidizer tanks, critical components for the LVM3 launch vehicle, with dimensions of up to four meters in diameter and 15 meters in length. Additionally, the CNC machining facility is equipped with advanced machines for the high-precision fabrication of 4.5-meter class rings and propellant tank domes for the LVM3.
This strategic expansion in HAL’s capabilities is set to enhance ISRO’s launch frequency and support India’s ambitious space exploration and satellite deployment plans, cementing the collaboration between two of India’s premier aerospace and defense organizations.