Overview
- HAL formally handed over two Tejas twin‑seat trainers, the first HTT‑40 basic trainers and four Dhruv Next Generation helicopters at a Bengaluru event held on Thursday, September 17, attended by senior defence and aviation officials.
- The specific handovers are two Tejas twin‑seat LCA trainers to the Indian Air Force, the initial HTT‑40 turboprop trainers for rookie pilots, and four Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited.
- HAL says 27 Tejas Mark‑1A airframes are ready but final integration tests for missiles and radar remain outstanding and the jet has not yet met the last five percent of IAF specifications.
- On engines HAL reports receipt of 10 GE F414 engines with additional shipments expected by December and says GE will return a commercial offer for a proposed F414 joint venture by October while targeting a production ramp to 24–30 Tejas per year from 2027.
- HAL’s chairman said the company has the facilities and skills to build the Russian Sukhoi‑57 in India if a transfer of technology is agreed, citing HAL’s past licensed manufacture of the Sukhoi‑30MKI and the strategic need to address IAF fleet shortfalls and domestic supply‑chain limits.