Archive · 18 Sep 2026
HAL to Hand Over Tejas, HTT-40s and Dhruv Helicopters
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited makes aircraft and helicopters in India.
On Friday, it will hand over some of these platforms in Bengaluru.
The Indian Air Force will receive Tejas trainer aircraft and HTT-40 trainer aircraft.
Pawan Hans Limited will receive Dhruv Next Generation helicopters.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu will attend.
The government says the event shows that Indian companies can design and build more advanced aircraft.
It also says this can reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
However, deliveries of some Tejas Mk1A aircraft have been delayed.
One reported reason is the late arrival of engines from GE Aerospace.
HAL will hand over Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
Dhruv Next Generation helicopters will be handed over to Pawan Hans Limited.
The ceremony will take place in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Friday, with Rajnath Singh and K. Rammohan Naidu attending.
The Defence Ministry says the event will highlight India’s aerospace self-reliance and domestic industry capabilities.
Tejas Mk1A deliveries have been delayed, with late GE Aerospace F404-IN20 engine supplies identified as a key bottleneck.
- Who
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will conduct the handover; the Indian Air Force and Pawan Hans Limited will receive the platforms. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and other senior officials will attend.
- What
- Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers, HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft and Dhruv Next Generation helicopters will be handed over.
- When
- Friday; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- The Defence Ministry says the handover will strengthen indigenous aerospace capabilities, support the domestic aerospace ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign sources.
Indigenous Aerospace Progress
Tejas Delivery Concerns
Meaning of the handover
Indigenous Aerospace Progress
The Defence Ministry describes the ceremony as an important milestone in India’s self-reliance journey and a demonstration of HAL and its partners’ growing ability to develop and manufacture advanced civil and military platforms.
Tejas Delivery Concerns
The delayed Tejas Mk1A programme indicates that production timelines remain challenging and that the programme has faced dependence on foreign engine supplies.
Reducing foreign dependence
Indigenous Aerospace Progress
The government says introducing these platforms will strengthen indigenous design, development and manufacturing while reducing reliance on foreign sources.
Tejas Delivery Concerns
Late GE Aerospace F404-IN20 engine deliveries have emerged as a key bottleneck for Tejas Mk1A deliveries, showing that foreign components still affect the programme.
- Tejas recipients
- Indian Air Force
- HTT-40 recipients
- Indian Air Force
- Dhruv NG recipients
- Pawan Hans Limited
- Event location
- Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Attending ministers
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu
- Tejas Mk1A order
- 83 aircraft: 73 fighters and 10 trainers
- Reported delivery bottleneck
- Late supplies of GE Aerospace F404-IN20 engines
