Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on September 18, 2026, handed over two LCA Tejas FOC Twin Seater Trainers and three HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF), along with four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL).
The handover ceremony in Bengaluru was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu.
Describing the occasion as a significant milestone in India’s journey towards indigenous aerospace capability and self-reliance, Rajnath Singh said India must develop the capability to meet its aerospace requirements while remaining globally competitive.
He stressed that achieving self-reliance in aerospace would require a gradual, sustained effort across the entire value chain, from aircraft design and avionics to propulsion, composite materials, flight-control systems, manufacturing, certification and lifecycle support.
The Defence Minister also called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, saying that both should work as partners rather than competitors. He urged Indian industry to focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, cyber technologies and next-generation propulsion.
Singh highlighted the importance of research and development and called upon young scientists, engineers, designers, test pilots and technicians to develop transformative technologies that can strengthen India’s position in the global aerospace sector over the next decade.
The LCA Twin Seater Trainers are the final two aircraft delivered under the FOC contract. They are intended to meet the IAF’s training requirements and provide pilots with a seamless transition to frontline fighter operations. The trainer retains the core systems and combat capabilities of the operational Tejas platform.
The HTT-40, an indigenously designed and developed basic trainer aircraft, is intended to meet the primary training requirements of India’s defence forces. Equipped with a modern cockpit and avionics suite, the turboprop aircraft supports aerobatics, instrument flying, navigation, night flying, general handling and close-formation training.
The four Dhruv NG helicopters handed over to Pawan Hans mark an important step in HAL’s expansion into the civil and commercial helicopter segment. The civil-configured helicopters feature upgraded systems, modern avionics and a more powerful engine, and are designed for applications including passenger transport, emergency medical services and offshore logistics.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said the certification and induction of the Dhruv NG into civil operations represented an important milestone for India’s indigenous civil aviation ecosystem and demonstrated the growing capability of Indian industry to develop and support advanced aerospace platforms for commercial use.
HAL CMD Ravi K said the deliveries demonstrate the company’s capability to develop and manufacture platforms for both defence and civil aviation requirements.
