Highlighting the impressive progress the country has made in indigenous defense manufacturing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was formally handed over the first center fuselage assembly for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A by VEM Technologies in Hyderabad on May 30, 2025. The formal handover was done in the presence of Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), and Dr. D.K. Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of HAL. The handover of the critical sub-assembly marks a significant milestone in India’s achievements in aerospace defense and self-reliance.
The delivery is a major milestone in the way that it marks the first instance in which a major structural component of the LCA Tejas is manufactured domestically, by a private Indian enterprise, signifying the growing prowess of the nation’s indigenous defense industry and its capability of delivering mission-critical systems for the Indian Armed Forces.
First Center Fuselage: A Result of Strategic Private-Public Collaboration
The Secretary of Defence Production, Shri Sanjeev Kumar, during the handover ceremony, emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in enhancing defense production, noting that India’s defense manufacturing sector is expanding at an average growth rate of 10% annually. Although the country still needs critical components like the GE F-414 Engine, which it is co-producing with the US, the recent successful completion of the center fuselage assembly will only serve to improve India’s defense exports, hence reinforcing India’s strategic goal of becoming a center of global defense manufacturing hub.
Shri Kumar highlighted that national security and strategic autonomy are intrinsically linked to the country’s capacity for indigenous production of advanced defense platforms and spares. He further acknowledged the pivotal role of HAL and industry partners, such as DRDO, who have contributed by providing HAL with indigene Leading Edge Actuators and Airbrake Control Module for the LCA Tejas Mk1A. He stated how the private defense manufacturing industry is ensuring that the Indian Armed Forces are equipped with reliable, locally sourced systems and subsystems.
How It Will Aid The Expansion of LCA Tejas Mk1A Production
Following the center fuselage handover, HAL CMD Dr. D.K. Sunil commended the efforts of Tier 1 suppliers and MSMEs in accelerating LCA Tejas Mk1A production. He noted how the delivery will not only accelerate production but also help HAL establish a fourth production line for the LCA Tejas. HAL already has three existing assembly lines, two in HAL Bengaluru and one in HAL Nashik.
Dr. Sunil reaffirmed HAL’s commitment to timely deliver the Tejas MK1A to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and emphasized the importance of aligning production timelines with operational requirements.
The Tejas Mk1A is a 4.5-generation, multirole fighter aircraft equipped with enhanced avionics, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and electronic warfare systems, which makes it a formidable asset in the IAF’s tactical arsenal.
HAL Contributing To Building a National Aerospace Defence Ecosystem
HAL has been a pillar of indigenous defense manufacturing, as it has consistently advanced the creation of a national aerospace defense ecosystem. However, this has been augmented by an active involvement of the Indian private defense sector in manufacturing critical components. HAL has also been critical in providing industry partners with essential infrastructure support, including jigs, fixtures, tooling, and technical expertise.
As a result, several Indian private companies—such as L&T, Alpha Tocol, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW), and VEM Technologies—are now capable of producing complex aerospace sub-assemblies. Together, these companies are now capable of manufacturing center and rear fuselages, fuel drop tanks, pylons, wings, fins, rudders, and air intakes. This collaborative framework is not only reinforcing HAL’s in-house production capabilities but is also facilitating the expansion of the entire indigenous defense industry.
The Role Of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence
The manufacturing and successful handover of the center fuselage also aligns with the government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). HAL is spearheading indigenization in the defense aerospace domain by working with over 6,300 Indian vendors, including 2,448 MSMEs, creating a broad-based domestic supply chain and contributing to job creation for skilled Indian workers.
