Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL)- India's Largest Defense Company

Mahesh · April 13, 2018, 3:50am

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) is the Largest Aerospace company of India, one of the biggest Aerospace companies of Asia and amongst Top 50 Aerospace companies of the world. If we do a strict like-to-like comparison of companies that are present across the entire value chain and possess capability to offer end-to-end solutions starting from design of a flying platform to its manufacturing to its support – HAL is amongst the Top 20 companies of the world. Its worthwhile to note here the current and historical world ranking of HAL as mentioned by two leading industry publications viz., Defense News and Flight International. Here, we have also stated the ranking of Bharat Electronics Ltd. which is the only other company from India, apart from HAL, which finds mention in Top 100 global defense companies :

Will not go into much detail regarding the business of the company and its offerings as for that one can refer company’s RHP – link of which is provided below :

http://www.cmlinks.com/pub/dp/dp12030.pdf

Usually I don’t prefer investment in a PSU company as the biggest turn-off for me has always been the work culture followed and the government dictat overhang. However, despite these odds, why I got attracted towards this company as a good IO is because of the following reasons :

– Today, India counts itself amongst only seven countries in the world that have the capability to manufacture a fighter aircraft right from scratch i.e., design, develop and manufacture a fighter aircraft — HAL has been one of the major reason for this ;

– HAL’s positioning in Indian defense segment is indispensable and no competition can emerge for this company in forseeable future – any private player will need to spend decades and burn a huge amount of cash (even with support from a foreign player) to build even half of the vast infrastructure that HAL has built over last seven decades in terms of more than 2500 acres of land in possession in various parts of country, state-of-the-art machineries, experienced personnel with deep knowledge, huge library of flaws and shortcomings that are experienced by flying platforms during actual use in Indian conditions and ways to overcome them, etc.

– Its therefore no surprise that :

75 % of all flying platforms in use today (fighter aircraft, trainer aircrafts, helicopters, transport fleet) by Indian Air Force (IAF) are supplied/supported by HAL,

66 % of all flying platforms in use today by Indian Navy are supplied/supported by HAL,

100 % of all flying platforms in use today by Indian Army are supplied/supported by HAL,

100 % of all flying platforms in use today by Indian Coast Guard are supplied/supported by HAL,

– Company has so far produced 4090 aircraft and 5005 Engines

– With such dominant positioning, there also exists exceptional financials’ track-record with :

23 Years’ CAGR in Revenues at 12.80 %,

24 Years’ Average RoE of 19.82 %

24 Years’ Average RoCE of 30.26 %,

24 Years’ Average EBITDA Margin of 11.48 % (with consistent profitable growth achieved each year over last 24 years),

24 Years’ Average PAT Margin of 12.68 % (with not a single loss posted in any fiscal over last 24 years),

13 Years’ EBITDA to Operating Cash Conversion at 51.46 %

24 Years’ cumulative total absolute R&D spend at whooping 13,902 cr.

24 Years’ Average Spend on R&D as % of Sales at 7.65 % (one of the highest in the industry),

24 Years’ Average Dividend Distribution as % of PAT at 24.65 % (with actual, as we can see from reported accounts, dividend payment track-record each year over last 24 years and management stated dividend payment track-record each year over last 40 years),

24 Years’ Average Debt/Equity of 0.19 (with current FY17 gross D/E of 0.07 and on net level cash surplus),

And

– Besides glorious past that we can see from above, future also looks promising with current FY18e order-book at 58,500 cr. (~3x FY18e Revenue) and expected order booking worth 2,43,000 cr. (~13x FY18e Revenue) over next four years,

– Apart from all these, its also macros which also seem to favour this company currently –

→ with Capital Outlay on Defense hovering around 23-24 % of total Defense Budget since last five years with a dire need to increase it to enable our forces to effectively tackle provoking neighbours,

→ with ‘Aircraft & Aero Engine’ allocation, which constitutes major portion of Capital Outlay (average 35 %), requiring a significant uplift in near future to arrest the dwindling strength of Air Force (by 2025 with no new addition, fighter aircraft strength will fall to just 360 – just slight ahead of Egypt and Pakistan and 1/4th that of China) ----[it is interesting to note that if we map a trend of past 20 years then HAL revenue have remained at average 60 % of respective ‘Aircraft & Aero Engine’ allocation amount]

→ DProP-2018, draft of which is recently released, calls for significant increase in HAL flying platforms’ capacity, increasing level of indiginisation, exploring export opportunities as also overseas acquisition opportunities thereby making India amongst the top 5 countries in the world in Aerospace & Defense industries.

Link for DproP2018 :

Lastly,

– despite glorious past, promising future and favourable macros, HAL – one of the largest Aerospace & Defense companies of Asia – is trading at cheapest valuations as compared to global peers as well as Indian peers who are hardly 1/10th of its current scale of operations.

Let’s discuss in slight detail with statistics below :

First Macros, – refer following table :

As can be seen from above :

– Overall Defence budget of India (including pensions) has grown at a healthy pace of 11.64 % (CAGR) over last 20 years as also 13.22 % and 10.47 % (CAGRs) over last 10 and 5 years respectively

– However, CAPEX spending has lost pace over last 5 years by growing at just 4.93 % (CAGR) which has severly dented our defence forces’ ability to effectively fight and win a two-front war (with Pakistan & China) in case war extends longer.

– ‘Aircraft & Aeroengine’ allocation which deals with purchase and support of flying platforms like fighter and trainer aircrafts, helicopters, etc. which has always been a major beneficiary of CAPEX spending (with 35 % + allocation) has infact exhibited negative CAGR over last 5 years. Because of this, today, our IAF stands at a critical juncture wherein if no steps are taken immediately, within 7 years, its stregth will dwindle by almost 40 % which will make it unfit to fight a two-front war effectively. Just refer the table below :

– Each Squadron consists of 18-20 fighter aircraft. Because of ageing fleet, 12 squadrons are up for retirement over coming 5-6 years (already IAF is using majority of these aircraft beyond their certified life). This effectively means a shortfall of 288 fighter aircraft (by 2025) projected as of today when Pakistan is increasing its AF fighter fleet substantially with support from China. Any substantial increase in any of the neighbours’ current projected strength (by 2025) will necessitate more addition.

– Do refer the first table again – as we can see, if we calculate HAL’s reported annual revenue with that respective fiscal’s Indian defence budget spending on ‘Aircraft & Aeroengines’, then, HAL revenue has on an average been 60 % of that.

– Also, although HAL is a direct beneficiary of increase in ‘Aircraft & Aeroengine’ spending, its revenue CAGR has outperformed ‘Aircraft & Aeroengine’ spending consistently over last 20 years.

Company- Specific financials & order-book :

After discussing Macros, let’s shift our focus to company-specific discussion. First let’s refer financials over last 24 years in table below :

As we can see from above,

– HAL has grown its revenues each year over last 24 years although growth has been lumpy with some fiscals turning low single digit growth and some fiscals turning extremely healthy double digit growth. This is the nature of business and is consistent across most of the global peers we observe. This is because the product manufacture cycle is so long (around 6-10 years) and regulations for actual approval and delivery of products are so stringent that it takes time. Also, company follows an accounting policy wherein revenues are booked only when actual delivery of the product happens and not on percentage-work-completion basis.

– Company has been EBITDA positive each fiscal over last 24 years although margins vary from low single digit to low double digits with average coming at around 11 % on long-term-basis. Product-mix as well as delivery execution plays part in this as contracts stipulate penalty for delayed delivery and so provisions in a particular year can dent margins.

– HAL has been PBT & PAT level positive each fiscal over last 24 fiscals with last 12 years’ PBT margin consistently at 20 % + and last 12 years’ PAT margin consistently at 14 % + barring one odd fiscal. This is because of the huge cash company holds (and other income
it derives from it) because of advances given by customers (primarily defence forces) and milestone payments. This is a trend across all DPSUs which are involved in complex long-term projects and customer calculates product pricing while taking into acccount ‘Other Income’ that will be generated by HAL (or for that matter any DPSU) from the cash given as advance. Hence, this trend is likely to continue in future too although in short-term over coming one or two fiscals, if there is no fresh large order booking, level of ‘Other Income’ might come down as current order-book is approaching delivery dates.

– R&D expenditure as % of sales has been almost consistent over last 24 years’ averaging out at around 7 % which is one of the highest in the industry.

Now, let’s turn our attention to order-book in table below :

As can be seen from above, company is sitting on a huge opportunity in terms of order bookings.

Valuation :

This is the most interesting aspect with regards to this company. Despite it being the largest defence PSU of India and one of the largest defence companies of Asia with many of its global as well as Indian peers inferior on varied and almost most of the financial parameters than HAL ; still, HAL today trades at relatively low valuations than most of them. Refer following table which gives an overview of almost all the l-t-l global peers of HAL :

– Revenues of all companies are stated in INR cr. with INR conversion rate of respective reported currency taken as at 31st March 2018.

– Many of the peers mentiioned above like Mitsubushi, Kawasaki, etc. have revenue streams other than defence/aircraft which contribute majorly to their financials ; however, we have sorted the companies based on the size of their overall operations and not by actual revenues coming from Aerospace & Defense segment.

– On 10 Years’ Revenue CAGR basis, only 3 companies have outperformed HAL and they are United Aircraft of Russia, Avic Aircraft of China and Korea Aerospace of South Korea. However, in terms of operational parameters, all these three companies are far more inferior than HAL whether we compare 10 Years’ Average EBITDA & PAT margin or RoE & RoCE.

– Another company that comes close to HAL’s 10 years’ revenue CAGR is Avichina Industry, again from China, but, here too, if we check operational paramters then its 10 Years’ EBITDA margin are almost similar but all other parameters inferior.

– Overall, evenif we leave aside consistent superior RoE & RoCE of HAL and only concentrate on business specific matrix like 10 Years’ Average EBITDA margin achieved and D/E aspect then HAL ,on the whole, turns out to be one of the best company amongst all peers except Raytheon who also has a portion of revenues coming from high-margin defence/commercial electronics segment.

Now, after looking at global l-t-l peers, let’s turn our attention to Indian peers — one fact here we need to note is that there are no listed (or for that matter unlisted) peers that can be compared to HAL since HAL is currently enjoying an almost monopoly in Aerospace segment related to defence and it only competes with global peers mentioned in above table for most of its contracts. Hence, what we did is we compared all prominent Indian listed entities which have some or major revenues coming from defence segment. We have divided our comparison in two parts – one Indian Private Sector companies and other Indian DPSUs for ease in reference. Refer following table :

– As can be seen from above, HAL enjoys consistently highest PAT margins and therefore highest RoE amongst all the companies – whether its Private sector or Public sector.

– Also, HAL is trading at one of the lowest valuations (on varied valuation multiples) as compared to both , private and public sector entities.

– Its only Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) , another defence PSU, which is as or more efficient than HAL and has the size of operations which are meaningful for comparison. Also, BEL is the only other entity which finds place amongst Top 100 defence companies of the world apart from HAL. So, what we did is we ran a detailed comparison of both, HAL & BEL on varied operational and business parameters across last 24 years to check whether BEL has outperformed HAL in any or many aspects. Refer following table where we have detailed 23, 20 ,15, 10 & 5 years’ CAGR of varied financial/operational parameters as also 24,20,15,10 & 5 years’ Average of varied paramters :

As can be seen from above,

– if we look at Revenue CAGR, BEL has outperformed HAL in last 5 years, however, on a long term basis, HAL has been an outperformer (this aspect will be more clearer in single-single 24 years’ YoY comparison detailed afterwards in next table).

– On absolute EBITDA CAGR front, again BEL & HAL are neck-to-neck on long term basis but in last 5 years BEL is a clear winner. However, here, if we look closely then, in two time-periods, viz., 15 Years CAGR & 10 Years’ CAGR, HAL outperformance has been significant, almost double that of BEL ; two things play part in this, first – its the actual period and its base which matters and second — the segment both the companies cater to, viz., defence, wherein once contract is booked its of larger value and has multi-year execution cycle and when major delivery periods of your order-book is there you wiill get operational efficiences and your EBITDA will get a boost and in other periods when the order is under execution it will be dull.

– Hence, these companies are best compared on a long-term basis and it is to be checked whether they are faltering on their traditional operational parameters like margins and all and here, both HAL and BEL are spot on as if we look at 24, 20, 15, 10 & 5 Years’ Average EBITDA margin of each, they are same with just a difference of 50-100 basis points here and there.

– Thus, what we here need to note is HAL’s business gives it an EBITDA margin of 11 % on a steady-state basis over long term whereas BEL is in a business which gives it an EBITDA margin of 16 % on a steady-state basis over long term — in some fiscal periods HAL & BEL’s margins will shoot up 200-500 basis points from steady-state and in some periods it will shoot down to a similar extent based on the delivery of the orders but on a steady-state if we will look in hindsight, it will not deviate from steady-state.

– If we look at PBT & PAT CAGRs the story is almost similar as explained above wherein BEL has outperformed HAL in last 5 years but both are neck-to-neck in Average PBT & PAT Margins achieved. Here, one intersting thing to note is the disappearance of margin difference of 500 basis points that is otherwise existent in EBITDA, with HAL PBT & PAT margins being similar to BEL in all periods whether you look at 24, 20, 15, 10 or 5 Years’ Average. This is because customer counts in its product pricing the benefits that HAL or BEL are going to derive from the cash advance they give at the time of placing the order.

– R&D Expenditure – if we look at ‘absolute amount spent’ CAGR then BEL seems to be outperforming HAL in almost all periods but, here again if we look at average of ‘R&D expenditure as % of Sales’ HAL seems to be more consistent with BEL only increasing its spend over last 5 years to come close to HAL but HAL consistently spending higher amount w.r.t. Revenues.

– HAL RoE and RoCE have consistently been superior to BEL whether you compare any period.

Now, after having looked at overall CAGRs and Averages of time periods combine, let’s have a look at each year’s actual numbers singularly of both the companies to get a better picture and correct ourselves if we are wrong somewhere. Refer table below :

As can be seen from above table,

– If we look at pure YoY Revenue growth achieved each year by respective companies then HAL has outperformed BEL in 13 out of past 23 years – its last 3 years where BEL has consistently outperformed HAL . Also, both the companies have registered a double digit YoY revenue growth in 14 fiscals out of 23 fiscals with HAL achieving single digit growth in 9 fiscals whereas BEL achieveing single digit growth in 8 fiscals and negative YoY growth in one fiscal.

– Both the companies have experienced high volatility in EBITDA margins, however, PBT & PAT margins of both the companies has been relatively more stable and has shown gradual improvement.

– HAL’s RoCE has been better than BEL in 13 years out of past 24 years – with BEL’s RoCE better in last 3 fiscals viz., FY15, FY16 & FY17.

– HAL’s RoE has been better than BEL in 17 years out of past 24 years – with HAL’s RoE consistently better in last 11 fiscals from FY07 to FY17.

So, now, to conclude our discussion, let’s have a look at the valuations at which HAL is trading at present and then move on to discuss negative aspects. Refer following table :

– Here, we have arrived at valuation multiples by taking two base figures – one TTM (FY17) figures and second steady-state figures as the business is such that its better to value it on a steady-state basis.

– On steady-state basis EBITDA margin is assumed at 11 % whereas PAT is assumed at 14.50 %.

– Key thing to note here is that although current order-book and its delivery schedules ensure steady ~20,000 cr. revenue p.a. for next three fiscals but, benefits of expansions of capacities that are undertaken on LCA and Helicopter divisions to be commissioned in coming two fiscals as well as robust future order pipeline are not taken into consideration while assuming steady-state figures.

Lastly, now, since we have already arrived at HAL valuation both on TTM and steady-state basis, its better to see where HAL is pitched against Top 50 Defence & Aerospace companies of the world in terms of valuations. In addition to l-t-l global peers given in table before, below we have covered almost all the other prominent publicly traded Defence & Aerospace companies that find mention in world’s Top 50. Many companies’ scale of operations is smaller than HAL since HAL is amongst Top 40 in the world :

Having covered above (in two tables) the world’s Top 50, let’s summarise the valuation multiples and arrive at a median and see where HAL is placed at in the matrix. Here, we have chosen not to just arrive at plain averages of valuation multiples since averages can give wrong picture in such comparison as if only 5 out of the 50 companies are trading at extremely exuberant valuations, then averages will move up. Refer following data :

Mahesh · April 13, 2018, 3:51am

Negatives :

Without paying proper heed to negatives, no discussion on a company could be complete ; so let’s now turn our attention to negatives :

PSU Work Culture & Government Dictat :

HAL being a PSU follows similar work culture as is followed by other PSUs like defined working hours for majority days of the year, specific allocated work, sub-par manpower utilisation, in last three months of a fiscal a rush in execution to meet stated targets, etc. In addition, because of significant Government holding, it also has to obey government dictat and gets affected by governments’ shortcomings or compulsions on fiscal front (– a case in point here is recent 2nd interim dividend announcement which was declared on 31st March 2018 post listing and RD fixed at one day before i.e., 30th March 2018 so that it can be paid to Government on 31st March itself). These are the issues that will remain with this company like any other PSUs, although, efficiency might improve post listing as has significantly improved in case of BEL.

However, it is also to be noted that being a PSU, it also enjoys certain advantages like preference in order awards, significant cash advances and tremendous support on long-term R&D projects. Another key thing to note here is, so far over last seven decades, the same issues were present but still company has turned out to be one of the extremely efficient and globally competitive enterprise. Also, it is to be noted that logically speaking, any Government, whether its NDA or UPA or some other – can’t afford a company like HAL to fail as its survival is crucial from national security point of view.

Product Quality Issues :

There has been quality issues in some of the products supplied by HAL. Major has been Ecuador issue wherein out of seven Dhruv helicopters supplied by HAL, four crashed ; no data was supplied by Ecuador on reason for crash citing confidentiality issue ; whereas there could be quality issue in this said case but, logically speaking, no company will supply and that too export such products where majority or all of them are faulty ; as also, before actual delivery of such flying platforms, stringent tests are done by the purchaser and only after satisfaction, actual delivery happens. However, there can be no denying of the fact that this thing has happened in past –-- It is also to be noted here that these same Dhruv helicopters were used by India for recent surgical strikes done on neighbour’s territory in 2016 – this is after the said crashes happened in Ecuador — if there would have been doubt on quality of this product Indian Armed Forces would have never used this for such crucial mission.

There were also some unconfirmed reports in 2015 that Boeing has ended contract with HAL for supply of structures and components to its military aircrafts citing quality issues. However, if we look at recent statement by Boeing in November 2017, it has said “HAL has been a key partner of Boeing for over two decades and today manufactures components for our commercial and defense platforms, including for the F/A-18 Super Hornet. We are continually exploring ways to expand that relationship.”

IAF and Navy has also reported some quality issues in products supplied or ROH done by HAL; although such reports are not many.

If we look in hindsight, then, if we look at the number of reports of products involved in such quality issues vis-a-vis number or quantum of products actually manufactured by HAL – they don’t look large as out of 4090 aircraft produced so far or 5005 engines produced how many quality issues have come up ?? Such 1-3 % of total products manufactured having some or other quality issue is not uncommon in the industry as a whole (if we look at well established global peers) and since the product is crucial and even a single failure could be fatal such issues amplify more in media. However, there could be no denying of the fact that such issues can come up any time.

Delayed Delivery Issues :

Another aspect because of which HAL has always been in news is the delay in product manufacture and delivery issue, especially with regards to India’s only indigenous fighter aircraft ‘Tejas’. The said project which started in 1980s is still going on with only 9 aircrafts delivered till date even after almost 35 years. As per industry experts, such projects are extremely complex and to build a flying platform like Tejas from scratch without any developed country’s support is next to impossible. This is the reason why only few countries in the world (only 7) have this capability today. To complicate the matters further, there came sanctions on India inbetween post which the specifications and requirements of IAF changed as it suggested multiple modifications to have a fighter aircraft which can compete with the best in the world. To add, India was simultaneously developing Kaveri Engine with a goal to use it in Tejas to make Tejas a pure indigenous product; however this project also failed.

Past is past and today finally Tejas deliveries are picking up with 6 Tejas getting delivered in FY18 (against a target of 8 – full capacity). Also, as per industry sources who are close to vendors (whom HAL has outsourced major components of Tejas), HAL might be able to deliver more Tejas from FY19 itself as all the orders of components/structures are placed and production started at vendors’ facilities.

Private Segment & Foreign Competition :

This prima-facie seems to be a major threat as in draft DProP-2018, government has proposed 74 % FDI in defence and with this many JVs might get established. However, if we look slightly deep then even after such opening up of defence sector to Foreign players, there might not be mad rush to establish facilities here – yes, for making it a sourcing base for their global products there could be interest amongst MNCs but with a goal to manufacture and supply end product (like flying platforms) to Indian Defence sector there might not be much interest. This is because for this, like investing billions to make fighter jets in India, a company needs certainty which is absent in India because of its political system. Today NDA government will frame one policy and tomorrow some other government, say third front will come and quash such policy and again will go indigenous. Because of this no Global company will come and invest in India with an aim to be a long term manufacturer and supplier of long gestation end products to defence forces.

Also, all the hype aside, its impossible for a country like India which is surrounded by two hostile neighbours and one of them being relatively more capable, to trust and look for a foreign player as a significant supplier of defence requirement be it any. Once you do that and let foreign company dominate the supply, then comes the foreign company’s home country in picture which usually dictates its terms in adversities like war. Leave aside such adverisities, but, even in normal situations these countries extract every juice out of their support to you – a case in point here is recent integration of Brahmos missile onto SU-30 MKI fighter aircrafts which are produced via ToT by HAL with Russia – when Russia was asked to enable such integration it offered its willingness to do so at a cost of INR 1300 cr. which was too large amount vis-a-vis the benefits that will accrue from such integration. On the other hand, HAL did this succesfully at a cost of just INR 80 cr… Ofcourse, no profit was earned by HAL on this project but key notable here is a country needs to have a robust and capable domestic supplier and partner for its defence forces to protect its sovereignty.

What can actually happen is a significant compeition can emerge in terms of ToT manufacturing with many new players like Reliance Defense (ADAG), Adani as well as other corporate houses with experience like Mahindra, Tata, etc., having established JVs with global companies for pitching for around INR 1 Lakh cr. order that is going to come from IAF for supply of fighter jets to arrest its dwindling fleet strength. If current government opens up significantly and gives such huge contract by not letting HAL benefit in anyway out of that and let Indian private sector take the lead, it could kill the cash cow of HAL – the fighter aircraft manufacturing via ToT. However, possibility of this happening after the huge hue and cry experienced in political system with Rafale deal (where HAL was bypassed and relatively new player Reliance Defense was preferred) seems unlikely. Also, there are two problems on taking such ToT route in isolation — first, its relatively expensive as its not only fighter aircraft which comes in the deal but the deal is packaged in such a way that you need to purchase warheads alongwith that – and second — unless the local partner achieves the competency on end-to-end manufacturing as well as future servicing/upgrades of the aircraft, a country remains dependent on foreign partner and foreign partner reserves the right to deny any upgrade/integration citing its home country regulations/dictat. Here, foreign partner never transfers critical technology know-how to local partner and ensures that local partner remains dependent on foreign partner for entire lifecycle.

Hence, ToT could be a short term solution to arrest the fall in IAF strength but what is rational is to have a mix of fighter aircrafts in portfolio wherein pure local projects are preferred and are more in numbers and ToT projects in collaboration with foreign partners are enacted to give IAF an edge as well as let local companies gain know-how in the process. To ditch promising local project like ‘Tejas’ (and that too when indiginisation upto the level of 60 % by value and 76 % by quantity is already achieved) and prefer ToT route for long term fulfilment of needs of armed forces could be a disaster and thankfully, leave corruption and other issues aside, no political party of India seems risking national security interests.

Thus, what could eventually happen is by keeping HAL at centre, entire aerospace industry ecosystem could develop.

Heavy Concentration on one Customer – Defence Forces :

In normal circumstances, when we evaluate a company, when 90 % + of its revenues are coming from a single customer, it could be a major risk. In case of HAL too this oculd be a major risk as average 92-94 % revenues of HAL are coming from defence forces only — but, its an interdependent relationship wherein HAL can’t survive without support of defence forces and defence forces also can’t afford to let HAL weaken as HAL’s existence is crucial for defence forces. Its like good natured truly loving and completely dependent (on each other) husband-wife relationship wherein they can quarrel with each other, scold each other but will never divorce with each other. Also, HAL is enjoying monopoly as far as manufacture and supply of flying platforms and their major components/structures/accessories as well as servicing, upgrade overhaul of flying platforms is concerned and flying platforms are extremely critical tools for defence forces to gain strength and survive. In addition, no private sector player could service defence forces as effectively as HAL does and just for an ex., evenif any private sector player with ToT from foreign partner initiates process for manufacture of fighter aircraft in India today, it will take atleast 6-8 years for first aircraft to fly forget here the stringent tests it will have to go through before induction into defence forces.

Possibility of Failure of R&D Projects :

As is the case of all R&D projects, failure chances are equally high here as these projects involve breaking through source codes of critical technologies required for flying platforms. However, these R&D projects are important strategically to a country like India and therefore government is compelled to extend its full support to such projects. One will ask why a project like ‘Tejas’ which has still not gone into full production even after 34 long years and still IOC (initial operational clearance) standard aircraft are manufactured with FOC still a year away – why this project is still lively and active – it is because experience that is gained in the process could eventually give rise to design and manufacture from scratch a fighter aircraft that could be extremely efficient and more importantly, your enemies will not have complete knowledge of its strength and weakness in hostile situations. Hence, although failures might be encountered, and in such failures government support will be assured but when successes happen it will catapult company as well as country into next orbit.

Su-30MKI production coming to an end – ~35-40 % revenue contribution coming from this product :

Su-30MKI contributes ~35-40 % to company’s revenues atpresent and its committed deliveries will end by FY21 post which there will be no production of this product. If this product is not compensated by a similar long-tenure large order then it could affect company’s financials adversely. However, logically speaking, this might not happen as order for 83 LCA Tejas MK1A worth INR 33,000 cr. is almost finalised and once Tejas MK2 is ready there is a willingness to procure 201 aircraft worth INR 80,000 + cr… Also, if government decides to go ahead with Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet in recently floated around INR ~1 lakh cr. contract then HAL is likely to be a partner who will manufacture the said aircrafts here via ToT. All these are still assumptions and unless some contract(s) are finalised the overhang of a large product going off-production will remain with HAL.

Conclusion :

Interestingly, in the case of HAL, conclusion of this discussion is in the form of certain critical questions :

– With India being the fifth largest defense spender of the world, for how long can it afford to keep CAPEX at such a low level vis-a-vis overall defense spend ?? With our defence forces already using age-old weaponary and equipments which are well past their cerified date of retirement and our neighbours equipping themselves of more cutting-edge weaponary, for how long can we ignore requirement of our defense forces in national interest ??

– With India being the largest importer of defence products in the world (13 % of the world defense products meant for exports are imported by India) and one of our neighbour achieving self-reliance in many strategically important areas of defense manufacture, for how long can India ignore the dire need for indiginisation and large scale local production of defense products ?? For how long can India remain extremely dependent on foreign countries to satisfy its national security needs ??

– With a stated vision in recently released Draft DproP-2018 of making India among the Top 5 countries in the world in Aerospace & Defense industries, is this vision realisable by ignoring HAL and BEL – the only two companies of India currently finding place in Top 50 and Top 100 (respectively) world ranking of Aerospace & Defence companies ?? Wouldn’t these two companies play a major role in any strategy of the government towards realisation of its stated vision ??

– Can the projected statistics of almost 3x increase in defense manufacturing and almost 10x increase in defense exports by 2025 be achieved wthout significant growth in HAL and BEL production and exports ??

– Can HAL, which has served Indian defense forces since last seven decades and currently enjoys the largest defense PSU status, falter at this crucial stage of next level scale-up ??

– Can HAL’s spend on CAPEX & R&D worth INR 19,138 cr. (cumulative) over past 13 years go in vain and can’t give it an edge to scale-up effectively to next stage vis-a-vis private sector competition ??

– Will HAL pay price for supporting local project ‘Tejas’ in its crucial development and build stage by not finding support from defense forces in future lucrative contract awards ??

– Will all lucrative high margin fighter aircraft ToT projects move on to private sector and HAL will not be made beneficiary of any them in future ?? Can Indian defense forces heavily rely on only private sector where in majority cases, still even infrastructure for manufacture is not built and JVs are on paper ??

– How many players can co-exist profitably in capital intensive long gestation/maturity Indian Defense & Aerospace industry on a long-term basis if we talk strictly of HAL’s area of offerings – end-to-end manufacture and servicing of flying platforms ??

– Is there any new development (which has not existed over last 3 decades) that makes us to believe that HAL will deviate from its medium-to-long-term steady-state Profitability margins that it has maintained over last 3 decades ??

– Wouldn’t competition in terms of if recent INR 1 Lakh cr. IAF contract being awarded to private sector JV, increase efficiency of HAL and make it even more responsible to serve defense forces relatively more accurately ??

– Is government foolish enough to let robust cash generation at HAL stop in favour of private sector and thereby plugging one of its effective revenue streams in terms of generous dividends and buybacks every year ??

– Is HAL’s PSU status such an overhang for its commanded valuations that even with relatively more efficient financial and operational matrix vis-a-vis peers, it deserves to trade at relatively inferior valuations ??

Note :

This is part of a general discussion on Indian Aerospace & Defense industry in broad sense and key domestic companies operating in the industry specifically. This is not a Buy/Sell/Hold recommendation or any sort of recommendation on any company whether listed or unlisted. Here, statistics are mentioned and statistical presentations are made based on the publicly available information. This is part of a broad discussion and should not be construed in any way as any sort of advice or recommendation.

Discl. – Invested in HAL

PDF of above note attached for members’ reference :

HAL_13042018_Note_for_Discussion.pdf (340.5 KB)

Mahesh · April 13, 2018, 4:00am

Following two sectoral reports on Indian Defense industry published recently by PhillipCapital & JM Financial are an interesting read. Links provided below :

http://backoffice.phillipcapital.in/Backoffice/Researchfiles/Researchfilesmove/PC_-Defence_Sector_and_Initiating-_March_2018_20180327152504.pdf

nav_1996 · April 13, 2018, 4:38am

Why is a company owned by Government and managed by MoD and supplying to same MoD is expected to make above average profits in long term?

Mahesh · April 20, 2018, 5:46am

$8.63-billion advanced fighter aircraft project with Russia put on ice

By Ajai Shukla | New Delhi | Last Updated at April 20 2018 06:22 IST

The proposal for India and Russia to jointly develop an advanced fighter — the eponymous Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) — has been formally buried. Business Standard has learnt that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval conveyed the decision to a Russian ministerial delegation at a “Defence Acquisition Meeting” in end-February.

Doval and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, who attended the meeting, asked the Russians to proceed alone with developing their fifth-generation fighter. They said India might possibly join the project later, or buy the fully developed fighter outright, after it entered service with the Russian Air Force.

New Delhi and Moscow have discussed the FGFA since 2007, when they agreed that Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) would partner Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau (Sukhoi) in developing and manufacturing the fighter. In 2010, Sukhoi flew the fighter, called Perspektivny Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, or “Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation” (PAK-FA). Seven prototypes are currently in flight-testing.

Russia said the PAK-FA met its needs, but the India Air Force (IAF) wanted a better fighter. So HAL and Sukhoi negotiated an $8.63-billion deal to improve the PAK-FA with the IAF’s requirements of stealth (near-invisibility to radar), super-cruise (supersonic cruising speed), networking (real-time digital links with other battlefield systems) and airborne radar with world-beating range. In all, the IAF demanded some 50 improvements to the PAK-FA, including 360-degree radar and more powerful engines.

Defence ministry sources who played a direct role in negotiations with Russia say much of this money was earmarked for Indian production facilities for manufacturing 127 FGFAs, and for India’s work share in developing advanced avionics for the fighter. It also included the cost of four PAK-FA prototypes for IAF test pilots to fly.
Now, the IAF has backed away from the FGFA because it argues the PAK-FA — which Sukhoi has been test-flying since January 2010 — is not stealthy enough for a fifth-generation combat aircraft.
Aerospace analysts who support the PAK-FA reject this argument. They point out that the US Air Force F-22 Raptor, was built with an extraordinary degree of stealth, but that proved to be counterproductive, since it resulted in high maintenance and life-cycle costs. Burned by that emphasis on stealth alone, US designers de-emphasised stealth while building their latest fifth-generation fighter, the F-35 Lightning II. Instead, they focused on building its combat edge through better sensors, highly networked avionics and superior long-range weapons.

The cancellation of the FGFA project has far-reaching implications for the IAF, for which this was once its high-tech future fighter. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) defence minister AK Antony had ruled out buying the F-35 Lightning II, arguing that India would have the FGFA to meet its fifth-generation fighter needs.

Indian aerospace designers also cited the FGFA experience as essential learning for developing the indigenous fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) is pursuing.

Now, the FGFA’s burial sets the stage for the IAF to eventually acquire the F-35 Lightning II, which comes in air force as well as naval variants. Indian military aviation, once overwhelmingly dependent upon Russian fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft, has steadily increased its purchases from America. On Tuesday, appearing before a US Senate panel for his confirmation hearings, Admiral Philip Davidson — nominated as the top US military commander in the Indo-Pacific, said the US should aspire to “break down” India’s historical dependence upon Russia.

The IAF has been split down the middle on the FGFA. Broadly, flying branch officers of the “French school”– whose careers have centred on the Mirage and Jaguar fighters — have tended to oppose the FGFA. Meanwhile, officers from the “Russian school”, their careers grounded in the MiG and Sukhoi fleet, have supported the FGFA.

Opponents of the FGFA have even argued that the project would duplicate and hinder the indigenous AMCA project. However, last July, an experts group headed by Air Marshal (Retired) S Varthaman, set up to consider this question, ruled that there were no conflict lines between the FGFA and AMCA. It stated that the technological expertise that would be gained from working with Russian experts would benefit the AMCA project.

In co-developing the FGFA, HAL was expected to deploy its experience in working with composite materials, which were to replace many of the metal fabricated panels on the PAK-FA. India was also expected to participate in designing the 360-degree active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. In addition, the experience of flight-testing the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft would be refined by flight-testing a heavier, more complex fighter.
These challenges were expected to imbue Indian engineers with genuine design skills, of a far higher magnitude than the lessons learnt from licensed manufacture.

In addition, the FGFA’s foreclosure means the loss of $295 million that India sunk into its “preliminary design phase” between 2010 and 2013

Millennial_Investor · April 20, 2018, 9:05am

HAL is well known for all the wrong reasons in aerospace world. Their reputation for quality is worst and that is a serious issue in aircraft manufacturing field. Boeing and Airbus both have shifted projects from HAL to other private suppliers in past decade and there is no reason to believe HAL can do better than the rest now.

Govt. orders or offset orders could be a positive thing for HAL but then there would hardly be any margin to make profits.

No aircraft manufacturer makes money in world even after being the top players. Considering this chances of HAL making money by building aircrafts is quite simply unrealistic.

Disclosure: This is a personal opinion and is no way a recommendation for any buy/sell transaction.

Mahesh · April 30, 2018, 6:21pm

Tough bargain may halt Rs 2,000 crore IAF deal of 20 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer planes

Ajit Kumar Dubey
New Delhi
April 30, 2018UPDATED 09:11 IST

HIGHLIGHTS
Air Force is not interested in an upgrade of its fleet either.

Deal for the 20 aircraft had gone through other problems in the past.

Negotiations have been in the pipeline for almost three years now.

A defence deal expected to cost over Rs 2,000 crore to buy 20 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer planes is likely to be called off by the Air Force as the negotiations for it have been stuck for almost three years now over steep price hike by the vendors.

The Air Force is also not interested in the upgrade of its fleet of over 120 Hawk planes that were inducted into service after a deal with Britain in 2004. The HAL is offering to upgrade the Hawk fleet of the Air Force to Hawk India jets by adding combat capabilities, government sources told Mail Today

The benchmark price of each aircraft was around Rs 90 crore but the initial price offered by the vendors including the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was more than double," the sources said.

“In the contract negotiations, the vendors have cut down the price but even now, the price offered is more than 60 per cent of what the defence ministry is willing to pay for the planes,” they said.

Another reason over which the deal may be called off is that due to government’s directive for utilising the funds optimally, the priority of the ministry is to buy more of war fighting equipment rather than go in for systems that do not fit that bill, the sources said.

On the newly-developed Hawk India jet showcased by HAL recently, sources said there was not much logic in going in for upgrade of IAF fleet of Hawk planes which have been inducted not long back. “The last of the Hawks were inducted only around three years ago in the force and the upgrades are not required at this moment,” the sources said.

The IAF had moved the proposal to buy these 20 planes from a British firm during the UPA regime as it wanted to replace the Kiran Mk 2 planes with the Hawk Advanced Jet Training jets to be equipped with smoking pots to fly with the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT).

The contract for the last batch of 57 planes was done between India and the British firm in 2010 to help in the training programmes of the Air Force and the Navy to add to the existing fleet of 66 planes bought in 2004.

The deal for the 20 airplanes has gone through many problems earlier also as the file related to the procurement case had mysteriously gone missing from a department under the defence ministry in 2014 leading to a delay of more than a year in completing the lapsed process

Mahesh · May 2, 2018, 4:02am

News Article in today’s business line newspaper

Navy’s helicopter contract faces ‘headwinds’

Proposal to include HAL as JV partner to OEM upsets corporates

MUMBAI, MAY 1

The Navy’s tender for 111 helicopters, a prized catch at ₹21,738 crore, is being eyed by Airbus, Lockheed Martin which acquired Sikorsky, Russian Helicopters and Bell Helicopters. The helicopter saga has already run into rough weather, as deliberations continue in the Defence Ministry whether an Indian PSU can be added to the roster of private entities which will manufacture the helicopter in India under the Strategic Partnership model.

The Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) project is the first acquisition to be cleared under the much-anticipated Strategic Partnership model of the Defence Procurement Procedure of 2016 (DPP-2016). Meant as a huge step towards self-reliance in the aerospace industry, it is aimed at addressing the critical void of helicopters for the fleet.

System integrators
The model designates a few private companies as Strategic Partners (SPs) that will assume the role of system integrators with foreign OEMs and also ensure long-term investment on production and R&D infrastructure, as well as ensure indigenisation and technology absorption.

The SP policy envisages establishment of strategic partnerships between Indian Defence majors and global Defence corporates to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.

Global OEMs have already conveyed their interest in the acquisition. Foreign OEMs have responded with their terms of technology transfer, information on capabilities and the scope of building domestic technology as well as constructing an ecosystem to build the NUH in India.

An Indian private company will be selected by the Defence Ministry to manufacture the helicopter in India with technology transfer by the chosen OEM.

Joint venture
However, discussions in the Defence Ministry about including a public sector entity, in this case Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), alongside private players as a joint venture partner to the OEM, has invited the wrath of corporates.

“There is no fair play in the awarding of defence contracts,” a senior official pointed out on the condition of anonymity. “Each and every time the ministry goes back on its word and hands over large orders to DPSUs. How can private companies expect to make any investment, as mandated by the SP policy, if there are no contracts or orders that come our way? There has to be a level playing field,” the official said.

The naval helicopters are set to replace the ageing fleet of 40 Chetak helicopters, which are meant for logistics and search and rescue operations.

Sources indicated that Airbus Helicopters’ has pitched both the AS565 MBe Panther and the H135M, to tackle both ends of the price spectrum, and is contemplating closing its Panther assembly line in Marseilles, France, and set it up in India, if it bags the contract.

Design brief
The Navy has already given its brief over the design configurations of the new helicopter, said sources, and wants the helicopters to have submarine hunter capabilities.

The fully configured versions of the twin-engine NUH have to be capable of light anti-submarine warfare, have wheeled landing gear and blade-folding capability, as also sub-surface targeting feature, apart from the standard roles of search and rescue, electronic intelligence, and anti-piracy missions.

Russia’s huge experience in this sphere and the successful implementation of many joint programmes, viz the production in India of the MiG-21, MiG-27 and the Su-30MKI, have placed it ahead of competitors.

State-owned HAL has a JV with Russian Helicopters. The latter has a tie-up with Punj Llyod. Similar tie-ups have been established between top Defence companies.

While Airbus Helicopters has teamed up with Mahindra Defence Systems, Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) has tied up with Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Earlier, it had teamed up with Sikorsky Aircraft. Lockheed Martin purchased Sikorsky in 2015.

TASL also has other tie-ups and is producing major systems for global giants including Sikorsky (its JV known as Tata Sikorsky Aerospace Limited has built 120 S-92 cabins), Airbus, Bell Helicopters and Boeing.

L&T has been partnering with several foreign OEMS and already has a joint venture with Airbus Defence and Space.

Mahesh · May 31, 2018, 3:40am

FY18 results attached…

Overall on expected lines with EBitda ahead of expectations…rising ROH share in total revenues seem to be part in this…key monitorable will be order book.

Rgds.

Discl. - invested

Mahesh · May 31, 2018, 9:00am

@Millennial_Investor

Just happened to see your said post yesterday ; somehow it slipped out of my attention before…

–

With a seven decade monopoly in own’s operational segment and no foresseable threat to challenge such monopoly there comes the inefficiency. This is not quite abnormal and is expected especially from a PSU company. However, it will be wrong to say that HAL has only produced or is known to produce inferior quality products. HAL has to its credit many significant milestones like HF Marut which was praised world over. Also, HAL is one of the best and cost effective MRO provider to defense forces – a capability which no private sector or MNC can match.

There is a thin line between ‘incapable’ and ‘inefficient’. Is HAL incapable – a clear NO. Is HAL inefficient – YES. Whereas capability building in a long maturity business takes decades, efficiency can be brought in relatively swiftly by proper focus, proper strategy and efficient use of available resources.

However, here, focus of an investor needs to be on opportunity size and number of players expected to benefit from such opportunity size as inefficient but capable players in a monopolistic environment are known to post reasonably good profitable growth till their monopoly is significantly challenged. Refer following statistics :

Over the next 15 years going into 2032, this is the bare minimum opportunity size in Indian Defense Air Assets segment (where HAL is the sole domestic player in India). Here, we have not included opportunities that could arise from domestic civil segment (helicopter, UDAAN scheme aircrafts, seaplanes) nor we have included opportunities that could arise on export front.

Now, first let’s see how we have arrived at the said opportunity size. In my first post in this thread I have briefly covered fighter jet opportunity and its expected shortfall by 2025. Let’s go into further detail below –

We have covered above each squadrons by fighter aircraft type so that we can have a clear idea where exactly we are placed right now and where we will be by 2032. Post 2025, phasing out of Jaguar, MiG 29 and Mirage 2000 will start which will all retire by 2032. With orders placed for Rafale and Tejas MK1, we will have addition of 4 squadrons with remaining deliveries of SU 30 making up for 2 more squadrons. Hence, with no new addition or orders for fighter aircraft, IAF will get down to just 17 squadrons strength by 2032 as against its 39.5 squadrons stregth which it had in 2005.

Now, forget here sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons as also forget here the need for additional squadrons (over and above the sanctioned 42) to remain ahead of our neighbours who are constantly building their fighter fleet strength every passing year ;– just to reach IAF’s own strength of 2005’s 39 squadrons, India will need additional 400 fighter aircraft by 2032. If we add here the need of Navy too then we are sitting on a INR 3,25,000 cr. market opportunity of only fighter aircraft that will be procured by India over next 15 years.

Now, let’s go into second aspect, Helicopters – have a look at below-mentioned statistics :

Existing helicopter fleet strength of all defense forces combine is 773 with 57 % of such fleet being 20 + years old and another 16 % being 10-20 years old. Over coming 15 years going into 2032, 487 helicopters are due for retirement with defense forces planning a fresh addition of another 225 helicopters. Hence, if we just take a bare minimum cost then India will procure helicopters worth INR 46,000 cr. over next 15 years for its defense forces.

Now, let’s talk of servicing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (ROH) opportunity. As on date, Indian Defense Forces has in its possession around 2200 air assets (including fighter jets, trainer jets, helicopters, etc.). 40 % of these fleet is more than 15 years old. Just to give a brief background, although each air asset has its own typical certified life (which can be, ofcourse, extended some more by an upgrade) as also its own certified time/service hours post which it needs an overhaul. On an average, an air asset life is 30-40 years and it needs two to three overhauls (more the life more overhauls required) in its entire life. Hence, over coming 15 years there is tremendous requirement of overhauling and upgrading of air assets in possession of defense forces so that their life can be extended more and they can be made more efficient to compete with neighbour’s latest air assets and weaponary. HAL, being a DPSU can’t charge exuberent prices which MNCs otherwise charge for upgrading/overhauling thier air assets, but, still, if we consider the bare minimum, then, Indian Defense air assets ROH segment is worth INR 90,000 cr. over next 15 years.

To conclude, total addreseable opportunity size for HAL over next 15 years is worth 4,61,000 cr. and what is the competitiion ???

In Fighter Jet segment competition is between HAL and ToT wherein even in ToT HAL stands a chance (as in the case of recent Boeing’s tie-up with HAL for F/A 18)
In Helicopters segment competition is between HAL and ToT wherein even in ToT HAL stands a chance (as in the case of recent Kamov 226T)
In ROH segment competition is almost non-existent and HAL is the only prominent trusted player (in addition to Air Force’s own Repair Depots & MNC OEMs)

Over coming 15 years there is hardly any chance of any formidable competition emerging for HAL from Indian private segment as these are not contracts that are signed today and executed tomorrow. Once, these contracts are awarded a company needs to put and build required infrastructure in place to execute such contracts post which there is long drawn process of actual product manufacture post which its approval for taking delivery takes time. Also, these spending (opportunity size) is not as if India, as a country can do away with. Its a bare necessity to protect India’s sovereignty.

Now, coming to profitability aspect as mentioned by you — a generalised statement like “No aircraft manufacturer makes money in world even after being the top players.” seems completely misplaced. Almost all the peers of HAL are profitable – just look at the statistics provided by me in my first post in this thread wherein I have given a l-t-l comparison of global peers v/s HAL. All have high single digit to low double digit 10 Years’ Average EBITDA margin and most of have positive 10 Years’ Average PAT margin. Its not about profitabilty but managing and raising the huge resources required to be in this business is a problem. Business is not bad – its a good business wherein product manufacture and delivery cycle is long and product’s life is 30-50 years post which there will be new product required and in the product’s lifespan itself you can earn 30-35 % of the actual sell-price of the product via ROH. Hence, once you are established and have a long operational history in the segment, ROH gives you a steady income whereas new product development and upgrades gives you growth.

Also, because of the nature of the business and resources required for it, there is no scope for multi players in the segment — there will always be few — even in a country like USA there are just three major companies who manufacture military aircraft. So, in India is there scope for more than two to three players in this segment ?? Seems a clear NO and with HAL being a dominant player not more then one player will coexist profitably over long run.

The scope is elsewhere — consider the following statistics :

Because of underdeveloped aerospace ecosystem and a high reliance on ToT, HAL imports almost 85-90 % of its RM requirement. This is where the scope lies for the private sector – a more than INR 1,15,000 cr. opportunity over next 15 years going into 2032. If such ecosystem is developed what will eventually happen is deliveries will also improve as also more self-reliance could be achieved. Consider the following statistic :

HAL has so far only invested based on firm contracts. If we look at Sales/Tangible Asset ratio, on an asset base of FY17, company has scope to earn revenues of upto INR 21,000 cr. only (only 20 % above reported FY17 revenues). However, this can significantly improve if outsourcing of major RM (which are otherwise imported) can be done to private sector.

Lastly, your point asto – “Boeing and Airbus both have shifted projects from HAL to other private suppliers in past decade “, – statistics say on the contrary,— if we look at recent developments and statements by respective companies, thier association with HAL is going on and is further strengthened like announcing JV with HAL (by Boeing) to make F/A 18 fighter aircraft in India as also 2016 statement of President of Airbus Group who in an interview stated that “Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) makes half of the A320 Family forward passenger doors produced worldwide.”

Also, if we look at statistics of ‘Finished Goods’ and ‘Spares’ exported by HAL over last 13 years, there has not been a drastic fall and infact an improvement over last decade wherein export of ‘Finished Goods’ has exhibited a 10 Year CAGR of 9.54 % and export of ‘Spares’ has exhibited a 10 Year CAGR of 14.21 %. Refer following statistic :

In any case, export or contract manufacturing of components for MNCs has never been the focus of HAL so far. Also, how many instances we can find in the world wherein a company helps strengthen its main competitor ?? Over past one and a half decade HAL has emerged from just a dependent ToT manufacturer to an independent OEM for various products. Such products which are under development are in direct competition to MNCs you mentioned as also other prominent global players of the industry. A case in point here is HAL’s emergence as the third largest player in Light Military Helicopter segment after Airbus and China’s Avicopter in recently published report by market research firm Forecast International. In addition, over coming one and a half decade HAL is likely to manufacture and supply 324 LCA Tejas fighter aircraft to Indian Defense Forces worth INR 1,50,000 cr. which if HAL could not do then it can directly benefit global players like Boeing, Saab, Lockheed Martin, etc.

Whereas its good to look at negative side of a story, but, at the same it is equally important to pay heed to the positive side too and not ignore it completely.

It will be interesting to note here the role of HAL in recently concluded Gagan Shakti 2018 – IAF’s biggest combat exercise post Operation Brass Tacks in 1987 – in which almost half of the air assets in possession of all the armed forces took active part. This exercise’s main goal was to test India’s preparedness to face a two-front war amidst dwindling fighter aircraft strength of IAF. In such a scenario of relatively weak number strength as compared to opponents, practising the concept of ‘surge operations’ is critical. In surge operations, the IAF is able to generate more sorties with the same number of aircraft by improving their maintenance and serviceability. In just 3 days during Gagan Shakti 2018, 1100 aircraft logged 6000 flight hours. Serviceability rate achieved was 83 % as against peacetime serviceability rate of 55-60 %. In the words of Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa, “This has happened due to support of the defence ministry and because of close cooperation with public sector units such as HAL and BEL. I have said it at the recent Defence Expo in Chennai and personally thanked HAL Chairperson Dr T Suvarna Raju for the tremendous support HAL has given for the buildup of this serviceability.”

Also, following links are an interesting read :

https://medium.com/indian-defence/demolishing-some-lca-tejas-falsehoods-6e6b335faf97

Mahesh · June 5, 2018, 9:41am

Government to seal Kamov helicopters deal by October

Hindustan Aeronautics-Russian Helicopters JV to send a detailed response to the defence ministry’s request for proposal on the Kamov Ka-226T attack helicopters project by August-end

Last Published: Sun, Jun 03 2018. 01 36 PM IST

New Delhi: The government is all set to conclude a multi-billion dollar deal by October to procure 200 Kamov Ka-226T attack helicopters through a joint venture between Russian Helicopters and state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Officials said almost all the ground work to finalise the mega project has been completed as the government is eyeing to seal it within the next four months.

An inter-governmental agreement between India and Russia was signed for the project during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow in December 2015.

In October 2016, India and Russia had finalised a broad agreement to set up the joint venture (JV) between HAL and Russian Helicopters which will co-produce the choppers. India is procuring the choppers to replace its ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

Last month, the defence ministry issued a request for proposal (RFP) to the Indo-Russian venture for the project.

Officials said the HAL-RH joint venture will send a detailed response to the RFP by end of August and the final deal is set to be signed in October. They said the government has already approved the technical configuration for the twin-engine multi-role helicopter which is known for its superior manoeuvring capabilities in mountainous areas.

The defence ministry has already approved the payment for setting up of the JV. A site in the vicinity of Tumkur near Bengaluru has been identified for setting up the facility to produce the choppers.

The Kamov helicopters will be supplied to the Indian Air Force and the Army. Both these forces have been pressing for early conclusion of the deal so that they could replace their ageing fleet of existing choppers within next three to four years.

According to the 2015 agreement, 60 Kamov-226T helicopters will be supplied to India in fly-away condition, while 140 will be manufactured in India. Russia had agreed to ensure transfer of technologies to India as part of the pact. Russia has been one of India’s key suppliers of arms and ammunition for decades.

duggu007 · January 13, 2019, 1:43pm

johnsgeorge.cet · February 23, 2019, 9:03am

Great analysis @Mahesh .

Have you captured Other income for this entire period? If so, can you please share that as well.
The recent past numbers (from 2013 to 2018) show that the other income portion is significant and hence the effective ROE (PAT minus Other Inc) is not impressive at all.

satishwe · June 30, 2020, 6:03am

@Mahesh Thanks for starting this thread, latest investor presentation states 18,000 crores dues received from defence , seems huge , should get the trade receivables closer to nill ?
If you are still tracking this company , waiting to hear your updates…

ganesh_bastwadkar · February 12, 2021, 4:27pm

ganesh_bastwadkar · February 24, 2021, 6:48pm

The company is getting the advance payment as well as getting the receivables and has reduced its borrowing
Hopefully They will be debt free by March.
The order book has significantly increased

utsav08 · April 10, 2021, 8:56am

From the below image taken from the investor presentation one can see that repair and overhaul has been growing well for the past few years whereas manufacturing has been lagging.

however post the new orders received that will take care of the manufacturing part which was lagging.

But i have a question since the company only considers revenue at the time of delivery and the first batch of the LCH they have said they will start to deliver in 2024 what will happen in between?

I mean will there be a good growth in the topline during the interim years or the revenue will just keep on dwindling here and there. If anyone has worked on this aspect please share.

Disclosure: Initiated tracking position.

Lajja_Shah · June 30, 2021, 5:40am

HAL Concall Notes!
Order Pipeline Looks Great!! Better Results Expected in the Future!
Let us know what you think in the comments!
(Disclaimer: Invested)

Amit2saxena · September 21, 2021, 5:25pm

HAL receives projects on nomination basis from MoD, Margins for manufacturing segment are set at 7.5% (reduced from 10% in the past). Margins for Overhaul are set at 10%.

Based on the above, how can company generate operating profit margins of close to 20%?

Note that other income (comprising of Interest income from advances from customer) is over and above this margin. So, that’s not the reason of operating margins.

Contrast this with Mazgaon Dock, another company under defence psu, again entitled for 7.5% margins. The operating margins here are close to 5% (see below) which makes sense, but I am not able to understand high margin profile of HAL.

yj235 · December 16, 2021, 5:26pm

Hi, I had a similar question and this is the only reliable information I found regarding nomination project margins.

It looks like the fixation of lower margins is only to standardize the process of making a quote for the order. The companies can bill the other charges separately and maintain their profit margins.

But this is an old article from 2018. I’d be interested to know if you have some newer information.