SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian aerospace industry is poised for a significant milestone as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) prepares to roll out the first Tejas Mk1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) from its Nashik Division, marking the operational debut of HAL’s third LCA production facility.
Fitted with a Category-B (CAT-B) engine, the aircraft is expected to undertake its maiden flight in June 2025, ahead of its delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF). Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, the first Tejas Mk1A equipped with the newly delivered General Electric (GE) F404-IN20 engine is undergoing final design and development activities, signaling steady progress in India’s indigenous fighter program.
The Nashik Division, HAL’s third production plant for the Tejas, has emerged as a key hub for scaling up LCA manufacturing to meet the IAF’s growing demands. The first Tejas Mk1A from this facility, powered by a CAT-B engine, is on track for its inaugural flight in June 2025. The CAT-B engine, a variant of the GE F404 series, is a stopgap solution while HAL ramps up integration of the more advanced F404-IN20 engines.
The Nashik plant’s role is critical to fulfilling the IAF’s order for 180 Tejas Mk1A aircraft, part of a ?1.2 lakh crore contract signed in 2021. The facility complements HAL’s existing production lines in Bengaluru, which have been delivering Tejas Mk1 variants since 2015. The successful first flight from Nashik will validate HAL’s efforts to decentralize and accelerate production, addressing past delays that have drawn criticism from the IAF and defense analysts.
Once the June flight is completed, the aircraft will undergo a series of tests before being handed over to the IAF, likely by late 2025. The IAF plans to induct the Tejas Mk1A into its No. 45 Squadron (“Flying Daggers”) and other units, replacing aging MiG-21 fleets.
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