Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced he will visit Kochi and Bengaluru to attend official events, including a major ceremony to hand over indigenously developed aircraft and helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pawan Hans Ltd.
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In the evening, he will be in Bengaluru to preside over a key handing-over ceremony that will bolster India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities. “Later in the evening, I will be in Bengaluru (Karnataka) to attend the handing-over ceremony of LCA Tejas FOC Twin Seater Trainers & HTT 40 Basic Trainer Aircraft to the Indian Air Force and Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans Ltd. Looking forward to it,” he said.
The handover represents a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance, highlighting the role of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and its industry partners in strengthening the domestic aerospace ecosystem. It also demonstrates the industry’s expanding capacity to design, develop, and manufacture advanced platforms for both civil and military applications.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, along with regulatory agencies and stakeholders from the aerospace and defense sectors, will attend the event.
The government has prioritized the promotion of indigenous design, development and manufacturing in the aerospace and defense sectors. The induction of these platforms marks a further step in enhancing indigenous capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign sources.
The two trainer aircraft being handed over are built to Final Operational Clearance (FOC) standards. The complete Mk1 fleet includes 16 Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) fighters, 16 FOC fighters, and eight twin-seat trainers.
The LCA Mk1A is the most advanced version of the LCA Tejas, equipped with AESA radar, an electronic warfare suite consisting of radar warning and self-protection jamming, a Digital Map Generator (DMG), Smart Multi-function Displays (SMFD), Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT), an advanced radio altimeter, and other advanced features.
The LCA Tejas is a 4.5 generation, all-weather, multi-role fighter aircraft designed to perform offensive air support, close combat, and ground attack roles effectively. It is also capable of undertaking ground maritime operations.