HAL to Hand Over Tejas Twin-Seater Trainers and HTT-40 Aircraft to IAF in Bengaluru

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will hand over LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force in Bengaluru on September 18.

The ceremony will also see HAL hand over Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited, bringing military and civil aviation platforms together at the event. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu are scheduled to attend.

Tejas Twin-Seater Trainers for IAF

The Tejas twin-seater aircraft are designed to support the training and conversion of fighter pilots on the Light Combat Aircraft platform. The second cockpit allows an instructor to accompany a trainee during training sorties while retaining the aircraft's fighter configuration and capabilities.

The handover will also mark the completion of the original 40-aircraft LCA Mk-1 order placed by the IAF in two tranches. The final two aircraft are twin-seat trainers in the Final Operational Clearance configuration.

The original order comprised 40 aircraft, including single-seat fighters in Initial Operational Clearance and FOC configurations, along with eight twin-seat trainers. The final trainers are the last aircraft to be delivered under that order.

HTT-40 to Support Basic Pilot Training

Alongside the Tejas trainers, HAL will hand over the first batch of HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF.

The HTT-40 is intended for basic military pilot training, providing a platform for trainees at the early stages of their flying careers before they progress to more advanced aircraft.

The induction places the HTT-40 alongside the Tejas twin-seater in the IAF's training ecosystem, covering different stages of pilot development.

Dhruv NG Helicopters for Pawan Hans

HAL will also deliver Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited during the Bengaluru ceremony.

The Dhruv NG is being positioned for civil aviation applications, giving the event a broader focus beyond military aircraft. The delivery will showcase HAL's work across both defence and civilian aviation requirements.

Rajnath Singh, K Rammohan Naidu to Attend

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K are also expected to attend the ceremony.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Civil Aviation, IAF, Pawan Hans, regulatory agencies and the aerospace and defence industry are scheduled to be present.

Focus on Indigenous Aerospace Manufacturing

The Ministry of Defence has described the handover as part of India's push to strengthen indigenous design, development and manufacturing in the aerospace and defence sectors.

The government said the platforms demonstrate the expanding capabilities of HAL and its industry partners to develop and manufacture aircraft and helicopters for military and civil applications. It also linked the induction of the platforms to efforts to strengthen domestic aerospace capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign sources.

The September 18 event therefore brings together three distinct areas of aviation basic military pilot training through the HTT-40, fighter pilot training through the Tejas twin-seater and civil helicopter operations through the Dhruv NG.