New Delhi: Samtel HAL Display Systems has bagged development order worth over $50 million to manufacture indigenous next-generation Multi Functional Displays (MFDs) for Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) over the next few years.

Formed in 2006, Samtel HAL Display Systems is a join venture (JV) between HAL and Samtel Display Systems, the first public-private partnership in this sector for developing and manufacturing avionics display systems. With this, it has also become the first Indian company to produce these MFDs in India.

MFD is a device that puts all aircraft-systems monitoring and flight planning functions at the pilot's fingertips. The MFD displays a composite view of the aircraft's environment, providing the pilot with all necessary information to make safe decisions during every phase of flight. Engine performance and situational data such as location, terrain, traffic, and weather and airport information are all digitally depicted and can be quickly interpreted at a glance on the large-format display.

Commenting on the order, Samtel Group's CMD Satish Kaura said, "This agreement with HAL is a significant development in public-private partnership, especially in this highly sensitive and strategic sector. In addition to the production of MFDs, the agreement will also require sustained support for all of HAL's applied systems. The defense industries demand high quality and high performance avionics equipment and systems and Samtel is committed to maintaining these standards."

In the first phase, Samtel HAL Display Systems will provide indigenous MFDs for HAL's star programme – the SU-30 MKIs. The indigenous MFDs, jointly developed with DARE (DRDO lab) and manufactured by Samtel have recently got clearance for flight-testing from Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness (RCMA). With this clearance, Samtel becomes the first Indian company to indigenize multifunctional displays for the Indian Defence forces.

The next phase of this order will see Samtel Displays Systems fit MFDs for HAL's LCA and IJT programs. Samtel Display Systems has a JV with HAL to support production, design and integration of next-generation avionics display equipment and systems.