State-run defence major HAL on Friday handed over LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF and Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans here.
The platforms were displayed and a pooja was also performed in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu at the handing-over ceremony of HAL's platforms.
Singh also sat inside the Dhruv NG, which was displayed at the venue. It is a HAL-designed and manufactured 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter, officials said.
The handover marks an important milestone in the country's self-reliance journey, as the event highlighted the role being played by HAL and its industry partners in strengthening the domestic aerospace ecosystem.
According to HAL authorities, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has handed over two LCA FOC Trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, completing the twin-seater deliveries under the FOC contract, and four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL), marking the induction of the civil-certified Dhruv NG into the civil aviation segment.
Three HTT-40 Basic Trainer aircraft, which were named Ankur today, have also been handed over to the IAF, marking the start of deliveries under the 70-aircraft contract.
The platforms together represent HAL's capabilities across military aviation, civil rotary-wing aviation, and pilot training, it said in a statement.
Speaking on the occasion, Civil Aviation Minister Naidu said that the certification and induction of the Dhruv NG into civil operations marked an important milestone for India's indigenous civil aviation ecosystem.
He termed it as a reflection of the growing capability of Indian industry to develop and support advanced aerospace platforms for commercial applications.
Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clear vision of Indians travelling in Made-in-India civilian aircraft.
"Very soon Indians will travel in Made-in-India civilian aircraft," the minister quoted Modi as saying.
Under Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India's defense sector has moved decisively from import dependency toward indigenous reliability, he said.
India's annual defense production is nearly four times what it was in 2013-14, and today our armed forces meet around 80 per cent of their requirements through indigenous procurement, he added.
Naidu said India currently operates around 250 civil helicopters but would require around 1,000 in the next five to eight years, with the indigenously developed Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopter offering a cost-effective solution.
He said the government plans to develop 200 helipads over the next 10 years under the modified UDAN scheme and has an ambitious goal of having a heliport in every district.
Naidu also called for greater use of indigenous aircraft such as the Dornier 228 for regional connectivity, particularly in remote areas.
HAL CMD Ravi K said that the handover of Tejas FOC Twin Seater Trainers, HTT 40 Basic Trainers and Dhruv NG helicopters demonstrates HAL's ability to develop and deliver platforms for diverse civil and defence requirements.
These platforms reflect the depth of capability that HAL has built over the years and the strength of the indigenous aerospace ecosystem that supports them, he said.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh; Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar; and Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation Samir Kumar Sinha also attended the event.
According to a statement shared by HAL, the LCA FOC trainer is a lightweight, all-weather, multi-role 4.5-generation aircraft designed primarily to support the training requirements of the IAF, while retaining the capability to undertake fighter operations when required.
It incorporates contemporary technologies, including relaxed static stability, a quadruplex fly-by-wire flight-control system, carefree manoeuvring, an advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics and advanced composite materials for the airframe.
"These technologies have enabled India to develop and operationalise an advanced twin-seat fighter aircraft capability," it said.
The Dhruv NG platform has been developed to address demanding operating conditions in India and upgraded for the requirements of the global civil aviation market, it said.
Its features include a civil-certified glass cockpit, a modern avionics suite, advanced navigation systems and enhanced situational awareness.
Safety features include crashworthy seats, self-sealing fuel tanks and a twin-engine configuration providing redundancy.
The HTT-40 (Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40) is an indigenously designed and developed Basic Trainer Aircraft intended to meet the primary training requirements of the Indian Defence Services.
Designed by HAL's Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC), the aircraft is built around a proven turboprop engine and is designed to provide good low-speed handling characteristics and effective training for trainee pilots.
The HTT-40 incorporates a modern cockpit and avionics suite and is capable of performing a range of basic training and flying roles, aerobatics, general handling, instrument flying, navigation, night flying and close formation flying, it added.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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