On Tuesday, GE Marine and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to investigate expanding HAL's manufacturing capabilities to include assembly, inspection, and testing (AIT) of the LM500 marine gas turbine.

HAL's IMGT Division has been providing AIT of GE's LM2500 marine gas turbine, which is installed aboard the Indian Navy's P-17, P-17A, and IAC-1 vessels, since 1986.

HAL has delivered 22 LM2500 gas turbines for 11 Indian naval vessels to date.

According to a joint statement, the MOU will look into allowing HAL to perform AIT for GE's LM2500 marine gas turbine for use in an indigenous four megawatt gas turbine generator for possible installation aboard future Indian naval vessels.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a Bangalore-based Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company. HAL, founded on December 23, 1940, is one of the world's oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers. HAL began aircraft production for the Indian Air Force in 1942, with licenced production of the Harlow PC-5, Curtiss P-36 Hawk, and Vultee A-31 Vengeance. HAL currently operates 11 dedicated R&D centres and 21 manufacturing divisions across four production units in India.