Ajay Kumar Shrivastava Appointed Director (Engineering & R&D), HAL

Ajay Kumar Shrivastava has officially assumed the role of Director (Engineering and R&D) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), one of India’s premier aerospace and defence public sector undertakings. With 37 years of experience in aircraft design and development, Shrivastava’s appointment marks a significant move in advancing indigenous aviation capabilities and innovation.

Background

Ajay Shrivastava began his professional journey at HAL in 1988 as a Management Trainee (Technical). Over the decades, he has served in multiple leadership roles including Head of the Aircraft Research & Design Centre (ARDC) and the Transport Aircraft Research & Design Centre (TARDC). Prior to this appointment, he was the Executive Director of ARDC, contributing significantly to India’s aerospace R&D framework.

Significance

Shrivastava’s appointment is a major step towards strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence and aviation technology. His experience with key indigenous aircraft and certification programs aligns with the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. His expertise is expected to further accelerate HAL’s progress in both military and civil aviation sectors.

Key Contributions

1. Played a major role in the avionics upgrade of aircraft like HS-748, Do-228, Sea King helicopter, and IL-78
2. Led the DGCA Type Certification for the Do-228 and Hindustan-228, India’s first civil-certified transport aircraft
3. Directed the indigenisation of critical aircraft components, reducing import dependence
4. Spearheaded the avionics upgrade of Hindustan Jet Trainer-36 ‘Yashas’, demonstrated at Aero India 2025
5. Recognised with the FASIA (French Aeronautics & Space Industry Award) for outstanding contributions to the aeronautics sector

Objectives and Vision

As Director of Engineering and R&D, Shrivastava aims to,

• Drive innovation in indigenous aircraft systems
• Enhance HAL’s capabilities in trainer, transport, fighter, and rotary-wing platforms
• Promote collaboration with global aerospace partners while maintaining a strong focus on self-reliance
• Lead technology upgradation and future-ready design strategies for next-generation aircraft