HAL hands over LCA Tejas twin seater to IAF in historic boost to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’

In a monumental step propelling India’s self-reliance in defense, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) ceremoniously handed over the first of its kind LCA Tejas twin seater to the Indian Air Force. The event, graced by Rakha Rajya Mantri, Ajay Bhatt, marked a significant leap in India’s defense capabilities. “This is a testament to our self-reliance and a huge boost to Swadeshi manufacturing in defense”, expressed Mr. Bhatt, as he unveiled the state-of-the-art twin seater LCA. He emphasized, “The LCA Tejas development showcases India’s prowess in designing, developing, and manufacturing world-class fighters.”

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, unveiled ambitious plans for the Indian Air Force. The force is set to procure a staggering 97 more LCAs, taking the total inventory count to a commendable 220 LCAs. Reflecting the commitment of HAL, C B Ananthakrishnan, CMD (Addl. Charge), HAL, voiced the company’s dedication to delivering all the twin seater aircraft under the IOC and FOC contracts within this fiscal year. “With the addition of the LCA Tejas Twin Seater, we inch closer to achieving self-sufficiency in the fixed-wing segment. These advanced trainers facilitate a seamless pilot transition from trainers to fighter aircrafts”, he added.

Designed for versatility, the LCA Tejas Twin Seater stands out as a lightweight, all-weather, multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft. It’s primed to meet the training demands of the IAF, while also being adaptable as a fighter. The aircraft embodies modern design concepts and technologies: relaxed static-stability, quadraplex fly-by-wire flight controls, advanced glass cockpits, integrated digital avionics systems, and cutting-edge composite materials for the airframe. This production milestone catapults India into an elite league of nations with such advanced capabilities, shining a spotlight on the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative of the Indian Government.