HAL hands over 2 LCA Tejas, 3 HTT 40 basic trainers to IAF

NEW DELHI, September 18;

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Twin Seater Trainers & three HTT 40 Basic Trainers to the Indian Air Force (IAF), and four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Civil Aviation Shri K Rammohan Naidu in Bengaluru, Karnataka on September 18, 2026.

In his address, Singh described the handing over as a significant milestone in the nation’s progress towards indigenous aerospace capability, technological self-confidence and self-reliance.

“Our aim is to make India capable, self-reliant, and globally competitive in meeting its aerospace requirements,” he said.