HAL to Sign Contract with Argentina for "Aviation Product"

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to sign an export contract with Argentina for a "smaller aviation product," even as it is negotiating with that country to sell its LCA Tejas aircraft.

HAL chairman and M.D., C.B. Ananthakrishnan annouced today that the deal for the "smaller product" would be concluded in the coming months. He however declined to specify the product.

Regarding the LCA he said Argentina and Egypt are seeking 15 and 20 respectively, of the Light Combat Aircraft.

During the course of a press conference at Aero India show in Bengaluru today, he said the two countries are interested in buying both trainer and Mark 1A variants of India’s single-engine, multi-role supersonic jet.

A delegation from Argentina visited HAL’s facility in Bengaluru earlier, HAL’s top boss said, adding that Argentinian pilots even flew the LCA as part of their evaluation of the aircraft.

Argentine president Alberto Fernandez said in December 2022 that the country is not going to purchase any military aircraft for the time being. “Argentina has to allocate its resources to more important things than the purchase of military aircraft. We are in a very unequal continent, but there are no war problems and unity among countries is sought,” the leader said in a tweet.