HAL to hand over Tejas trainers, HTT-40 aircraft to IAF and Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans
HAL will deliver LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF, and Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans, at a Bengaluru event.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will hand over Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Final Operational Clearance twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, alongside Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited, at an event in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on September 18, 2026.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu are scheduled to be present at the handover.
The occasion is being positioned as a significant marker in the country's self-reliance efforts, underscoring the part played by HAL and its industry partners in building up the domestic aerospace ecosystem. It is also expected to reflect the industry's growing capacity to design, develop and manufacture advanced platforms for both civil and military use.
Among those expected to attend are Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh; Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar; Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Samir Kumar Sinha; and HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K. Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Indian Air Force, Pawan Hans, regulatory agencies and stakeholders from the aerospace and defence sectors will also be present.
The government has placed high priority on promoting indigenous design, development and manufacturing in the aerospace and defence sectors. The induction of these platforms is being seen as another step towards strengthening domestic capabilities and lowering dependence on foreign sources.