Ajay Kumar Shrivastava has officially assumed charge as the Director (Engineering and Research & Development) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with effect from July 15, 2025. Prior to this elevation, he was serving as Executive Director at the aerospace and defence public sector undertaking.
Shrivastava’s term as Director will continue until his superannuation on November 30, 2026, or until further orders. With a distinguished career spanning over 37 years, he brings to the role deep expertise in the design, development, and certification of trainer, fighter, and transport aircraft, as well as rotary-wing platforms.
An Electronics Engineering graduate from HBTI Kanpur, he also holds a master’s degree in Aviation Safety and Aircraft Airworthiness from ENAC/ENSICA in Toulouse, France. Additionally, he is a certified Project Management Professional.
Having joined HAL as a Management Trainee (Technical) in July 1988 at the Hyderabad division, Shrivastava has held various key positions over the decades. As Head of the Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC), he played a pivotal role in securing the RMTC-RSD certification for the indigenous HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft. He also oversaw the avionics upgrade of the HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer, which was successfully showcased at Aero India 2025.
In alignment with the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, Shrivastava was instrumental in leading the indigenisation of several critical aircraft components at HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division in Kanpur.
