Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday handed over two LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainers and three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF), besides delivering four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited.
The handover took place in Bengaluru in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu.
Singh described the ceremony as a milestone in India’s efforts to build indigenous aerospace capabilities and strengthen technological self-reliance. He said India’s objective was to develop an aerospace sector capable of meeting domestic requirements while becoming globally competitive.
Singh stressed that self-reliance in aerospace would require sustained, incremental development rather than a sudden transformation. He called for greater integration between the defence and civil aviation sectors, covering aircraft design, avionics, propulsion, composites, flight-control systems, manufacturing and certification.
The Defence Minister said the LCA FOC trainer would support pilot training for frontline fighter operations, while the Dhruv NG represented growing indigenous capability in the civil helicopter segment.
The HTT-40, an indigenously designed and developed basic trainer, is intended to meet the primary training requirements of the armed forces. Singh also highlighted its potential for exports.
Singh called on HAL to strengthen capabilities across the aerospace value chain, including design, development, manufacturing, certification, lifecycle support and global marketing. He also stressed the need for realistic project timelines to prevent delays, cost escalation and technological obsolescence.
Naidu said the certification and induction of Dhruv NG into civil operations marked an important milestone for India’s civil aviation ecosystem.
HAL CMD Ravi K said the deliveries demonstrated the company’s ability to develop platforms for both defence and civil applications.
The event was attended by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, senior defence and civil aviation officials and other stakeholders.