New Delhi: Bengaluru-based state plane manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Saturday issued a clarification on social media posts stating that it has “hired a consultancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers to benchmark its research & development framework against global aerospace and defence companies” and said “no firm has been finalized yet.”
On selection of PwC to benchmark its R&D activities, in a series of posts on X, HAL said: “HAL would like to state that no firm has been finalized yet for the benchmarking of its R&D processes.”
HAL said it had issued a “request for quotation (RFQ) for engaging a consultancy firm” to conduct a benchmarking study of its R&D framework against global aerospace & defence companies.
The decision to initiate this benchmarking exercise was taken based on the recommendations made by the high-power committee on Public Undertakings as part of HAL’s continuous improvement and modernization efforts.
The selection process is being conducted through a transparent and competitive methodology on the Government of India’s GEM Portal in compliance with all applicable procurement guidelines. The process is currently ongoing.
“HAL reiterates that no official award of work has been made so far, and any information suggesting otherwise is premature and incorrect. HAL remains committed to upholding transparency and fairness in all its procurement actions.”
ALH Dhruv grounding
A day ago, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had to issue a clarification on reports of continuing grounding of 330 advanced light helicopters (ALH) Dhruv.
Lashing out at the serving military officers, former pilots, “so-called defence analysts” and “arm-chair critics”, the HAL said: “… that of late, ever since the unfortunate accident of ALH operated by the Indian Coast Guard in January, speculative and stories with malicious intentions on HAL are being written and published on these platforms,” including online, print, websites, blogs, social, and digital media platforms.
Terming the stories filed by them are one-sided and biased, HAL said: “These stories are written without offering HAL's perspective.”
“There are inaccuracies and references to outdated issues that have long been resolved by HAL by taking its customers into confidence. HAL cannot respond to or comment on all these reports one-on-one due to the sensitive nature of defence issues and products.”
HAL would like to reiterate that it is working with all its customers including the Indian Air Force and is confident of handling the critical issues that are innate to the defence aeronautics and complex flying platforms," it added.
HAL chief DK Sunil had earlier mentioned that a "swashplate fracture" caused the crash of a coast guard Dhruv ALH at Porbandar in Gujarat on January 5.
As of December 2024, the government held a 71.64 per cent stake in HAL.
