Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday, 18th September 2926, handed over two newly manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF), marking a significant milestone in India’s indigenous combat aircraft programme.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu travelled to Bengaluru for the occasion, where the aircraft were formally handed over to the IAF.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh attended the final certification and induction ceremony for the two Tejas fighters.
Apart from the Tejas aircraft, HAL also handed over the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) for the Tejas twin-seat trainer variant, three HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL).
Addressing the gathering, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the deliveries as a major step forward in India’s journey towards self-reliance in aerospace technology and defence manufacturing.
“The handover is a significant milestone in the nation’s progress towards indigenous aerospace capability, technological self-confidence and self-reliance. Our aim is to make India capable, self-reliant and globally competitive in meeting its aerospace requirements,” he said.
Tejas Orders Worth Over ₹1.10 Lakh Crore
As of September 18, 2026, HAL and the Indian Air Force have signed contracts for 220 Tejas aircraft under three major orders with a cumulative value exceeding ₹1,10,370 crore.
First Order (2006 and 2010 Contracts)
- 40 Tejas Mk-1 aircraft
- 32 single-seat fighters and 8 twin-seat trainers
Second Order (February 2021)
- 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft
- 73 fighter variants and 10 trainer variants
- Contract value: Approximately ₹48,000 crore
Third Order (September 2025)
- 97 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft
- 68 fighter variants and 29 trainer variants
- Contract value: ₹62,370 crore
Original Mk-1 Contract Fully Completed
With the latest delivery, HAL has now handed over all 40 aircraft ordered under the original Tejas Mk-1 programme.
The 40th aircraft was delivered during the official ceremony in Bengaluru, marking the completion of HAL’s commitments under the initial Tejas production contract and paving the way for accelerated deliveries of the more advanced Tejas Mk-1A variants currently on order.
