Today, October 17, 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will launch the locally built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) TEJAS MK-1A for the first time in public.
The event, which will be presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, represents a major step towards India’s aviation industry being self-sufficient. As the aircraft approaches official induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is working to resupply its aging combat fleet, this flight represents a significant milestone.
The MK-1A, designated LA5043, has successfully finished pre-flight testing, and the Nashik sortie will take place at the same time as HAL’s third TEJAS production line is inaugurated.
From maintaining Russian-made aircraft such as Su-30MKIs, MiG-21s, and MiG-27s, HAL’s Nashik division has developed into an important production base for India’s own fighter jets. The 1.3 million-square-foot factory has undergone an infrastructure upgrade for ₹500 crore to accommodate the production of the TEJAS MK-1A.
With GE set to deliver 12 engines by the end of the fiscal year, more supply is expected soon, allowing for an accelerated pace of production. One aircraft’s entire assembly cycle takes about 18 months.
The MK-1A has not yet been delivered to the IAF since successful certification, which includes fire trials and weapon integration, is followed by formal induction. The MK-1A program intends to strengthen the IAF’s light combat fleet and replace retired MiG-series fighters.
The aircraft has successfully completed important weapon tests, such as integrating the domestic ASRAAM air-to-air missile system and the Astra beyond-visual-range missile. With a following order for 97 more inked in late September 2025, HAL has committed to produce 83 MK-1A planes by 2029, with delivery expected to continue until 2034.
The Nashik plant produces the HTT-40 turboprop trainer aircraft to replace the Pilatus-PC7 MK-2 in IAF service, in addition to fighters, supporting the growth of domestic aerospace manufacture. In order to make up for losses and maintain fleet strength, Nashik also keeps building 15 Su-30MKIs.
In addition to demonstrating India’s domestic fighter development capabilities, this first flight event and the corresponding production scale-up pave the way for potential exports, provided that international interest turns into concrete orders. It also acts as a transitional milestone toward more sophisticated fighter platforms, such as the domestic fifth-generation AMCA program and the TEJAS Mk2.
Today’s first public flight of the TEJAS MK-1A is a historic event for HAL and India’s aerospace defense sector, underscoring the advancements and difficulties of attaining military aviation self-reliance in the face of global supply chain constraints and the strategic imperative to update the IAF’s combat fleet.
