In a further boost to India’s air defence preparedness, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has received the first set of wing assemblies for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A from the private conglomerate in the defence sector, Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
L&T is set to supply four wing sets annually, with plans to scale up production to 12 sets per annum through advanced assembly processes and automation.
The wing assemblies which have been handed over are a crucial part of the LCA Mk1A fighter jets. It is being developed to strengthen India’s air defence capabilities.
What is LCA Mk1A?
The LCA Mk1A is a more advanced version of the Tejas aircraft and is expected to enhance the Indian Air Force’s combat strength. The aircraft is designed, developed, and manufactured in India, with HAL leading the integration and assembly.
The LCA Mk1A programme is a significant part of India’s aim to build a self-reliant defence ecosystem and to reduce dependency on other countries. According to the PIB release, officials said the wing assemblies were manufactured with high precision and reflect L&T’s strong engineering and production capabilities.
HAL sources key components from Indian manufacturers
According to Deccan Herald, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF, in February 2021.
Till date, the LCA Tejas Division has received structural modules of Air Intake Assemblies from Lakshmi Machine Works, Rear fuselage assembly from Alpha Tocol, Loom Assemblies from Amphenol, Fin & Rudder Assemblies from Tata Advanced Systems, Centre Fuselage Assembly from VEM Technologies and Wing Assemblies from Larsen & Toubro for the LCA Mk1A.
Boost to indigenous aerospace manufacturing
The successful delivery reflects the growing collaboration between HAL and L&T in the aerospace and defence sector and marks another step in boosting the country’s defence manufacturing under the Make in India programme.
HAL CMD, Dr DK Sunil said, “HAL is working with suppliers, both large and SMEs, as an initiative towards achieving Aatmanirbharta in the aerospace and defence sector. HAL has effectively built a parallel aircraft structural assembly line in the private sector which will help in capacity augmentation of the LCA Tejas program”.