HAL Unveils Third LCA Tejas Line, Boosting India’s Air Power

In a landmark development for India’s defence sector, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A took to the skies for its maiden flight from HAL’s new production facility in Nashik on October 17. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh witnessed the historic flight, which marks a significant stride in the country’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme.

The event also saw the inauguration of HAL’s third production line for LCA Tejas Mk1A and the second production line for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), the homegrown basic trainer aircraft designed for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The new lines complement existing production facilities in Bengaluru and aim to accelerate delivery schedules for both fighter and trainer aircraft.

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Powered by GE Aerospace’s F404–IN20 engine, the LCA Tejas Mk1A represents a modern, lightweight, multirole fighter tailored to IAF’s operational requirements. The Nashik line has an initial capacity of eight aircraft per year, raising HAL’s total annual production capability for LCA Mk1A to 24 units. Over the next two years, HAL plans to further expand the facility to produce up to 10 aircraft annually with the addition of new assembly and tooling infrastructure.

The establishment of the Nashik facility has also brought substantial economic benefits, generating around 1,000 direct jobs and fostering collaborations with over 40 industry partners across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. HAL aims to leverage this enhanced production capacity not only to meet domestic requirements but also to explore export opportunities for friendly nations.

The HTT-40 programme, fully funded and developed by HAL, continues to gain momentum. Its first and second prototypes flew in May 2016 and May 2017 respectively, and the aircraft has emerged as a cost-effective, indigenous trainer. The programme is expected to generate around 1,500 direct jobs within HAL and create up to 3,000 indirect jobs through an extensive network of MSMEs contributing to the supply chain. The IAF also retains an option to procure an additional 36 HTT-40 aircraft, further strengthening the programme’s growth prospects.

The inauguration event featured a thrilling flypast by the Su-30MKI and a formation flight of HTT-40 trainers, highlighting India’s expanding air combat and training capabilities.