Nashik, October 17, 2025 – The first Tejas-Mk1A fighter aircraft manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Nashik complex successfully completed its maiden flight today. The event was marked by a traditional water cannon salute, celebrating a significant milestone in India's indigenous aerospace efforts.
The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was present to witness the inaugural flight and to inaugurate HAL's third production line for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, as well as the second production line for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), a indigenous Basic Trainer Aircraft designed and developed by HAL for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The first two LCA production lines and the first HTT-40 production line are located in Bengaluru.
HAL initiated the establishment of the third production line in Nashik to fast-track the delivery of LCA Tejas aircraft to the IAF. This production line has a capacity of eight aircraft per annum. With the addition of the Nashik line, HAL aims to achieve a total production capacity of 24 LCA Mk1A aircraft per year. Furthermore, there are plans to expand the capacity in Nashik to 10 aircraft per annum within the next two years by establishing an additional Assembly Jig Line, Tooling, and Pre-installation Check facilities.
The Tejas Mk1A is a 4.5 generation, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by HAL for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. It is the second jet-powered combat aircraft developed by HAL, following the HF-24 Marut. As of July 2025, the IAF operates two Tejas Mark 1 squadrons, with the first, No. 45 Squadron IAF (Flying Daggers), becoming operational in 2016.
The Tejas Mk1A incorporates over 40 improvements compared to the Mark 1 variant, including an advanced avionics suite featuring an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an electronic warfare suite, a modern glass cockpit, and a stealth-oriented design. The aircraft is powered by a GE F404-IN20 engine and is capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 1.8. It has a combat radius exceeding 500 km and a ferry range of nearly 1,700 km, enabling it to perform air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions.
While the maiden flight from the Nashik facility is a significant achievement, the formal induction of the Tejas-Mk1A into the IAF is contingent upon the successful completion of ongoing weapon and radar integration trials. The aircraft must clear trials involving Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, short-range missiles, and laser-guided bombs. Pre-induction tests will also validate integration with the Israeli-origin ELTA ELM-2052 radar and fire-control system.
The rollout of the Tejas Mk1A from Nashik is part of HAL's broader plan to increase production. In addition to the two operational lines in Bengaluru, the Nashik line is designed to produce up to eight aircraft annually. HAL has also developed a parallel private-sector supply chain to support the production of an additional six aircraft each year. Once stabilized, this ecosystem is projected to enable annual production of 30 fighters from 2026-27.
Despite these advancements, the Tejas Mk1A program has faced delays, primarily due to disruptions in the supply of GE F404 engines from the United States. As a result, the IAF is now expected to receive its first Tejas Mk1A aircraft no earlier than March 2026. HAL aims to ramp up production to 16 aircraft annually once engine supplies stabilize.
The Indian Air Force has ordered 83 Tejas Mk1A variants. The new variant is expected to have more indigenous content than its predecessor.
