The launch of the third production line of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) TEJAS MK-1A at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Nashik facility marks a significant step forward in India’s indigenous military manufacturing program.
The new line, inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, expands HAL’s current capacity and allows for the production of eight aircraft per year, bringing the company’s total TEJAS output to twenty-four planes per year.
The expansion is crucial since the Indian Air Force (IAF) is losing operational squadrons as older MiG models are phased out.
In addition to the TEJAS production line, the Defence Minister launched the second manufacturing line for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) and the first TEJAS MK-1A at the Nashik facility.
He lauded the new variant’s successful flight as a symbol of India’s rising self-reliance in military technology under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.
The TEJAS MK-1A, the most advanced variant of the LCA, features the Uttam active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare suite, and improved actuators. It has more than 64% indigenous content and sixty-seven freshly designed Indian components, boosting the quest for domestic innovation.
During the event, Rajnath Singh highlighted the tremendous development of the defence sector over the last decade, which he attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategic leadership.
He pointed out that India used to import over 70% of its important military hardware, but today produces 65% of it domestically. The Defence Minister stated the government’s goal of achieving complete self-sufficiency in defense manufacture, signaling a significant change away from foreign dependence, which had previously created both financial and strategic risks.
Official estimates show that India’s yearly defense output value has increased from ₹46,429 crore in 2014-15 to above ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2024-25. Exports have increased to ₹25,000 crore, from less than ₹1,000 crore a decade ago.
The government aims to boost domestic output to ₹3 lakh crore and exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029. These data highlight the nation’s desire to become a worldwide defense production powerhouse rather than a significant importer.
The TEJAS is a lightweight multi-role fighter capable of performing air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions. The MK-1A version features improved avionics, an upgraded electronic warfare suite, and beyond visual range missile capabilities.
It will be able to deploy advanced precision weaponry from longer stand-off distances, giving the IAF more tactical options in future air operations. The IAF ordered eighty-three TEJAS MK-1A aircraft in 2021 for a total of Rs 46,000 crore. Upon completion, the force will employ forty MK-1 fighters, more than 180 MK-1A aircraft, and at least 120 of the upcoming MK-2 type, substantially boosting its fleet.
India’s permitted fighter strength is forty-two squadrons, each with sixteen to eighteen aircraft. However, with the retirement of the final MiG-21 squadron in September, the IAF’s active strength has dropped below thirty squadrons, emphasizing the importance of accelerating indigenous production. The new Nashik line, therefore, comes at a critical point in restoring balance to the Air Force’s operational capabilities.
During his speech, Rajnath Singh stressed the significance of adjusting to the fast changing character of modern warfare. He asked HAL to look beyond current initiatives like the TEJAS and HTT-40 and invest in next-generation platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and civil aviation technologies.
He lauded the company’s performance during Operation Sindoor, a unique, full-spectrum Indian military mission in which HAL provided round-the-clock technical support for combat aircraft and helicopters.
The Defence Minister emphasized the Nashik team’s critical contribution in mounting the BrahMos missile on Su-30MKI fighters, which effectively neutralized terrorist targets during the operation.
In conclusion, Rajnath Singh stated that the successful manufacture of the TEJAS and HTT-40 aircraft represents a vast network of industrial cooperation among public and commercial partners, which is supported by academic engagement. This synergy, he continued, proves that when government, industry, and academic institutions work together to achieve a single goal, no problem is insurmountable.
The Nashik facility’s enlarged capacity demonstrates India’s ability to design, build, and sustain its own advanced combat systems, ensuring its road to complete defense self-sufficiency.
