By A Correspondent
Bengaluru (Karnataka): In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received the first centre fuselage assembly for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A from Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies on May 30, 2025.
India’s Secretary (Defence Production), Sanjeev Kumar, and HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr. D. K. Sunil witnessed the handover. This was the first time a private Indian aerospace and defence company produced a major sub-assembly of the Tejas combat aircraft and delivered it to HAL.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjeev Kumar hailed the partnership between HAL and VEM Technologies in accelerating the production of LCA Mk 1A.
He said defence production witnessed a significant growth rate of about 10 percent annually, and this positively impacted India’s defence exports.
“This would not have been possible without the support of industries and Public Sector Units like HAL. Security and sovereignty of the country are paramount and cannot be achieved without its manufacturing and supply of spare parts, which could meet the requirements of the armed forces,” he added.
Sunil acknowledged the rapid growth of Tier 1 and MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) suppliers in the production of the LCA Tejas.
“The handover marked a significant milestone in establishing a fourth production line for the LCA Mk1A, in addition to the two existing lines in HAL-Bengaluru and one in HAL-Nashik.”
He assured that with major sub-assemblies underway, HAL will increase the production of the LCA aircraft and ensure timely deliveries to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
HAL has built a national aerospace ecosystem by closely supporting private partners and providing critical inputs such as jigs, fixtures, tools, and technical know-how, a Ministry of Defence statement said.
This has enabled companies like Larsen & Toubro, Alpha Tocol, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), VEM Technologies, and Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) to produce complex sub-assemblies such as centre fuselages, fuel drop tanks, pylons, rear fuselages, wings, fins, rudders, and air intakes.
The LCA Tejas Division has already received structural modules of air intake assemblies, rear fuselage assemblies, loom assemblies, and fin and rudder assemblies in the Mk1A configuration, the statement said.
HAL plans to extend this outsourcing model to future projects, reinforcing its in-house capacity with the expertise of Indian industry, it said.
In line with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, HAL continues to drive indigenisation efforts in the aerospace and defence sector.
HAL has partnered with over 6,300 Indian vendors, including 2,448 MSMEs, supporting thousands of skilled jobs and contributing to a robust domestic supply chain.
In the last three years, HAL has placed orders worth INR13,763 crore with Indian vendors and is actively pursuing the indigenisation of complex aircraft systems and critical components across platforms.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Telegram.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on WhatsApp.
