Question : Dornier Aircraft

(a) whether the Government has plans for the development and production of Dornier aircraft and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has initiated steps for research and development in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to sign any Memorandum of Understanding with a foreign player/ company in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has identified any facility for the production of Dornier Aircraft and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the quantum of funds allocated for research and development of Dornier Aircraft?

MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI AJAY BHATT)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) Yes, Sir. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence has been manufacturing 19 Seater Dornier Do-228 aircraft since 1983 under Transfer of Technology from Germany. More than 150 military Do-228 aircrafts have been produced and supplied to various customers. Two civil Do-228 aircrafts have also been produced by HAL.

(b) The Research & Development efforts for an indigenous civil transport aircraft have been initiated by HAL to develop a prototype Hindustan-228 aircraft, based on Dornier Do-228 platform.

(c) HAL has signed two MoUs with foreign companies for exploration of possible co-operation with no financial commitment, regarding development of an amphibian variant of Hindustan-228 aircraft.

(d) HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur was identified as production agency for the Do-228 in 1983.

(e) For development of Hindustan-228 prototype and indigenization of the various systems, HAL has allocated Rs. 94.41 Cr from its internal resources.

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