HAL Delivers Indigenous Tejas and HTT-40 Aircraft to Indian Air Force

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu attended a ceremony in Bengaluru on September 18, 2026, where Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered a series of indigenously manufactured aircraft. The handover included the final two LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers, completing a contract from 2010, and the first three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft, named Ankur. The HTT-40 delivery marks the return of homegrown aircraft to the Indian Air Force's Stage-I training pipeline 17 years after the HPT-32 fleet was grounded. Additionally, HAL delivered four civil-certified Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited.

While the event celebrated India's progress toward aerospace self-reliance, Rajnath Singh urged HAL to establish more realistic project timelines to prevent the cost escalations and technology obsolescence that have plagued previous deliveries.

Separately, HAL reported that it has completed 27 airframes for the Tejas Mk1A, though deliveries are delayed pending missile and AESA radar integration tests. HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K confirmed the company has received 10 engines from GE Aerospace, with 12 more expected by December. The company targets the delivery of 10 Mk1A aircraft by March and plans to begin ground testing for the Tejas Mk2 by February.