Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday marked a significant milestone in India’s indigenous aerospace programme by handing over two LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainer aircraft and the first HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF). At the same ceremony, four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) civil helicopters were handed over to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL).
The handover ceremony in Bengaluru was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and HAL CMD Ravi K were among the other senior officials present.
WATCH || Defence Minister @rajnathsingh says every fighter pilot’s journey begins with a basic trainer aircraft. At the LCA Tejas handover event, he highlights India’s earlier reliance on imported trainers and says the indigenously developed HTT-40 strengthens self-reliance. The… pic.twitter.com/e7pamxqAst
— DD India (@DDIndialive) September 18, 2026
Two Tejas trainers complete FOC twin-seater deliveries
The two Tejas aircraft handed over to the IAF are the final two twin-seaters under HAL’s FOC contract, completing delivery of all four twin-seat aircraft covered under that contract. The FOC programme also included 16 single-seat fighters, which HAL delivered during 2022-23, according to reports.
The twin-seat Tejas is designed to support fighter-pilot training while retaining the operational characteristics of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. The final aircraft incorporate several upgrades, including improvements in radar performance, autopilot handling, fuel systems, secure communications and air-to-air refuelling capability.
❗🇮🇳 India’s Homegrown Aviation Trio Takes Centre Stage: HAL Hands Over Tejas, HTT-40 & Dhruv To India
Rajnath Singh takes a close look at India’s homegrown aviation lineup – standing beside the HTT-40 and stepping inside a Dhruv helicopter. pic.twitter.com/ErjqgR6N4i
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 18, 2026
HTT-40 enters IAF training pipeline
HAL also handed over the first HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft, named ‘Ankur’, to the IAF, marking the beginning of deliveries under the contract for 70 HTT-40 aircraft.
The indigenous turboprop trainer is designed for foundational pilot training, including aerobatics, instrument flying, navigation, night flying and close-formation flying. The HTT-40 was developed by HAL’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre and has an indigenous content of around 57 per cent, according to information released around the handover.
The Ministry of Defence had approved procurement of 70 HTT-40 aircraft in 2023, along with associated equipment, training aids and simulators, to strengthen the IAF’s basic pilot-training capability.
Four Dhruv NG helicopters handed over to Pawan Hans
The other major component of the ceremony was the handover of four Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited. The delivery marks the induction of the civil-certified Dhruv NG into the civil aviation segment.
The Dhruv NG is a HAL-developed light, twin-engine, multi-role helicopter designed for a range of civil applications. Its potential roles include passenger and VIP transportation, offshore operations, air ambulance services, disaster relief and other specialised missions. The civil variant has received certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
A three-way boost for India’s aerospace sector
The Bengaluru ceremony brought together three different strands of India’s aviation capability—advanced fighter training through Tejas, basic pilot training through HTT-40, and civil helicopter operations through Dhruv NG.
The Defence Ministry said the induction of these platforms represents another step towards strengthening indigenous aerospace capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign sources. It also highlights HAL and its industry partners’ expanding role in designing, developing and manufacturing platforms for both military and civil aviation.
The handover thus marks a notable day for HAL, with one programme completing a key delivery milestone, another entering its delivery phase, and the Dhruv NG making a fresh push into India’s civil helicopter market.
