Govt Inks Rs 2,312-Crore Deal with HAL for 8 Dornier Aircraft for Coast Guard

The Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed a Rs 2,312-crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of eight Dornier 228 aircraft along with associated operational role equipment for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

The agreement was concluded with HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division in Kanpur under the ‘Buy (Indian)’ category, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi, the Ministry said in a statement.

It is the second major contract signed with HAL this financial year. In September 2025, the Ministry had inked a Rs 62,370-crore deal with HAL for 97 Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A for the Indian Air Force, comprising 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, along with associated equipment. Deliveries of the LCA Mk1A are scheduled to begin in 2027-28 and will be completed over six years.

The Dornier 228 is a twin-engine turboprop, multi-mission aircraft manufactured by HAL for maritime operations. The Coast Guard currently operates the aircraft in 228-100 and 228-200 variants. Designed for versatility and fuel efficiency, the platform supports a wide spectrum of roles, including maritime surveillance, coastal patrol, pollution response, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.

The Ministry said the programme is expected to provide a boost to HAL’s production ecosystem, generating direct and indirect employment while supporting a wide network of MSMEs and ancillary industries. It is also expected to create sustained opportunities in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and long-term technical support.

According to the statement, the contract underlines the government’s push for indigenisation in defence manufacturing while strengthening India’s maritime security capabilities.

Team BharatShakti