Tejas Mk1A and HTT-40: Self-Reliance in defence production

Context:

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the third production line of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the second production line of the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Nashik on October 17, 2025.

About Tejas Mk1A:

The Tejas Mk1A is an upgraded version of India’s indigenous light combat aircraft, developed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Key Features & Upgrades:

· The Mk1A variant incorporates major enhancements over the original Tejas Mk1, including a new avionics suite, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, improved electronic warfare (EW) suite, and air-to-air refuelling capability.

· It is powered by the GE F404-IN20 engine, providing higher thrust and enabling the fighter to reach speeds of up to around Mach 1.8 and cover a ferry range of approximately 1,700 km in some estimates.

· The aircraft is capable of multirole operations: air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and maritime missions. It supports a variety of weapons including beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles and precision-guided munitions.

About HTT-40:

The HTT-40 is a tandem-seat turboprop basic trainer aircraft designed and developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) via its Aircraft Research & Design Centre (ARDC). It is intended to serve as the ab-initio (first stage) trainer for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and other Indian armed services, and reduce dependence on imported trainer aircraft.

Key Features & Specifications:

· Engine: Powered by a Honeywell TPE331-12B turboprop engine (or equivalent) providing around ~1,100 hp (derated to ~950 hp in some configurations) for training use.

· Performance: Maximum speed around 450 km/h, service ceiling around 6,000 m (6 km) in training role.

· Indigenous content: Initially about 56 % indigenous content, with plans to increase to over 60 % by further indigenizing components and subsystems.

Strategic Significance:

· Enhanced Production Capacity: With the third Tejas line and the second HTT-40 line operational, HAL’s Nashik division amplifies India’s capability to meet the IAF’s fighter and trainer aircraft demand.

· Manufacturing Ecosystem Strengthening: The new lines reflect investments in infrastructure, assembly jigs, modules and digital manufacturing within the defence-aerospace domain.

· Employment & Industry Partnerships: HAL has created around 1,000 jobs through the Nashik expansion and developed over 40 industry partners in the region.

· Symbol of Indigenous Progress: The Tejas Mk1A and HTT-40 are emblematic of India’s efforts to design, develop and produce advanced aerospace platforms domestically — moving away from import dependency.

Conclusion:

The inauguration of the third production line of LCA Mk1A and the second production line of HTT-40 at HAL Nashik marks a significant milestone in India's journey towards self-reliance in defence production. With this development, India is poised to strengthen its defence manufacturing capabilities, reduce dependence on foreign imports, and emerge as a major player in the global defence industry.