Aircraft

Israel Aerospace Industries' Bedek division is in talks with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) about setting up a Boeing 737 cargo conversion joint venture in India.

The tie-up, which would be the first civil cargo conversion programme to be created in the country, would build on existing links between the two companies. HAL already manufactures the cargo door for Bedek's 737-300 conversion - a contract that was part of a co-operation agreement signed in 2003 between the Indian and Israeli companies.

Bedek general manager Dany Klieman confirms the cargo venture talks, saying that the conversion facility would be operated with HAL and would use existing infrastructure.

IAI and HAL have a long history of co-operation, having previously set up a joint venture to market and support worldwide an export version of HAL's Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter, which uses avionics developed by IAI's Lahav Division.