Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd on September 26 signed an MoU with SkyPulse Solutions IFSC Pvt Ltd, based in GIFT City, for a 30-helicopter leasing programme valued at ₹2,491 crore.

The programme will be rolled out in phases: 10 helicopters between 2027 and 2029, and 20 more from 2030 onwards. It covers a mix of twin-engine and single-engine helicopters.

The helicopters are intended for emergency medical services, disaster response, UDAN regional connectivity, tourism and government aviation duties.

HAL said the partnership would create about 450 direct high-skilled jobs and an estimated 2,745 jobs across the wider economy.

Helicopter leasing is still a young market in India. Officials said the deal could open the door for structured leasing models similar to those used in commercial aviation.

SkyPulse, operating out of the International Financial Services Centre at GIFT City, will act as the leasing platform for the programme.

The agreement is part of HAL's push to widen its civil aviation footprint beyond defence manufacturing.