HAL Takes Delivery of First Tejas Mk-1A Wing Assemblies from L&T

The first set of wing assemblies for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A, manufactured by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), was officially handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at an event held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The handover marks a significant milestone in India’s push towards self-reliance in the aerospace and defence sector under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The wing assemblies were received by M Abdul Salam on behalf of HAL from L&T’s Precision Manufacturing and Systems Complex.

The event was attended virtually by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production, who praised the collaborative efforts of HAL and L&T in boosting domestic defence manufacturing capabilities. Kumar lauded HAL’s leadership in engaging with private sector partners, helping them build capacities and contribute effectively to major national defence programs. He expressed confidence that India would be able to meet the production targets for the LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets and called for broader self-sufficiency by reducing reliance on foreign countries.

Dr. DK Sunil, Chief Managing Director of HAL, who was physically present at the event, emphasized that the handover of the LCA Mk-1A assemblies stands as a symbol of years of dedicated collaboration between HAL and L&T. He highlighted HAL’s strategic partnerships with both large-scale and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the private sector as a means of enhancing manufacturing capabilities within the country. HAL has successfully established a parallel aircraft structural assembly line in the private sector, which will significantly help in increasing the production capacity of the LCA Tejas aircraft.

Arun Ramchandani, Senior Vice President and Head of L&T Precision Engineering and Systems, shared that L&T currently plans to deliver four sets of wings per year and aims to increase this to 12 sets annually using advanced manufacturing technologies and automation. This scale-up would significantly enhance the delivery timelines and efficiency of the overall LCA Tejas Mk-1A program.

As part of the broader supply chain for the Tejas Mk-1A, HAL has been working with various Indian companies to source critical structural components. The LCA Tejas Division has received air intake assemblies from Lakshmi Machine Works, rear fuselage assemblies from Alpha Tocol, loom assemblies from Amphenol, fin and rudder assemblies from Tata Advanced Systems, centre fuselage assemblies from VEM Technologies, and now the wing assemblies from L&T.

This collaborative approach involving multiple private companies under HAL’s guidance highlights India’s growing industrial capabilities in the defence sector. It demonstrates a robust model for public-private partnership in advanced aerospace manufacturing. The Tejas Mk-1A, a key indigenous fighter jet platform, is expected to play a vital role in bolstering the Indian Air Force’s capabilities while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of indigenous production. The recent handover is a tangible outcome of strategic vision, technological investment, and joint industry effort, paving the way for sustained production and operational readiness of the LCA Tejas Mk-1A fleet in the coming years.