Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s newly established third production line for its light combat aircraft, the Tejas Mark 1A variant at its Nashik facility on Friday (October 17, 2025). This will have the capacity to manufacture eight aircraft per year. The Minister will also inaugurate the second production line for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT)-40 basic trainer aircraft.
A senior HAL official said that the occasion would be marked by the maiden flight of the first LCA Tejas Mk1A produced by HAL’s Aircraft Manufacturing Division in Nashik, a major milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in aerospace and defence.
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The third Tejas production line was initiated in 2023 with a view to fast-tracking the delivery of LCA Tejas aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The facility, set up in a record time of just two years, has been developed by leveraging existing resources — hangars, manpower, and machinery — at HAL Nashik, with an internal investment of about ₹500 crore. The investment covered only the specialised technological infrastructure required for the advanced LCA Mk1A variant, the official added.
