First central Fuselage for India’s LCA Tejas MK1A Version Handed Over to HAL

The first centre fuselage assembly for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A was handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) an Indian firm, VEM Technologies in Hyderabad yesterday.

The Tejas MK1A is an advanced version of the LCA Tejas boasting features such as an AESA radar. Some 100 units of the aircraft are expected to be assembled by HAL.

This event marks for the first time a major sub-assembly for the LCA Tejas being manufactured by a private Indian company.

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.

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. HAL plans to extend this outsourcing model to future projects, reinforcing its in-house capacity with the expertise of Indian industry.