Make in India Boost: L&T Hands Over First Tejas Mk1A Wings to HAL

In a significant boost to India’s air defence capabilities, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has received the first set of wing assemblies for the Tejas Mk1A Light Combat Aircraft from defence sector giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

L&T will initially supply four wing sets per year, with plans to ramp up production to 12 sets annually by leveraging advanced assembly techniques and automation.

The delivered wing assemblies are a vital component of the LCA Mk1A fighter jets, which are being developed to enhance India’s air defence capabilities.

LCA Mk1A: India’s Next-Gen Indigenous Fighter Jet

The LCA Mk1A is an upgraded variant of the Tejas fighter jet, aimed at boosting the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities. Designed, developed, and manufactured in India, the aircraft is assembled and integrated by HAL.

The LCA Mk1A programme plays a key role in India’s push for a self-reliant defence ecosystem and reduced dependence on foreign suppliers. According to a PIB release, officials noted that the wing assemblies were manufactured with high precision, showcasing L&T’s robust engineering and manufacturing expertise.

HAL Sources Key Tejas Parts from Indian Manufacturers

According to reports, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹48,000 crore contract with HAL in February 2021 for the supply of 83 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to the Indian Air Force.

So far, HAL’s LCA Tejas Division has received several key structural modules for the Mk1A variant: Air Intake Assemblies from Lakshmi Machine Works, Rear Fuselage from Alpha Tocol, Loom Assemblies from Amphenol, Fin and Rudder from Tata Advanced Systems, Centre Fuselage from VEM Technologies, and Wing Assemblies from Larsen & Toubro.

Push for Indigenous Aerospace Manufacturing

The successful delivery highlights the strengthening partnership between HAL and L&T in the aerospace and defence sector, marking another milestone in advancing domestic defence manufacturing under the Make in India initiative.

HAL CMD Dr. DK Sunil stated, “HAL is actively collaborating with both large companies and SMEs to drive Aatmanirbharta in aerospace and defence. We’ve successfully established a parallel aircraft structural assembly line in the private sector, which will significantly boost the production capacity of the LCA Tejas programme.”

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