Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated two new aircraft production lines at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Nashik facility, marking a major boost to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities. The event saw the formal launch of the third production line for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the second for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40). Singh also flagged off the first LCA Mk1A aircraft produced at the Nashik plant, terming it a historic milestone for India’s indigenisation efforts in the defence sector.
Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh described the successful production of the Tejas Mk1A as “a shining symbol of India’s growing Aatmanirbharta in defence.” He said the achievement reflects how the nation’s defence ecosystem has evolved in the last decade through a combination of strong policy reforms, institutional collaboration, and increased focus on research and innovation. The minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for prioritising self-reliance and reducing India’s long-standing dependency on foreign defence imports.
“When we came to power in 2014, we realised that without self-reliance, we can never be truly secure,” Singh remarked, highlighting the major shift in India’s approach to defence production. He noted that India, which once imported up to 70 per cent of its defence equipment, now manufactures nearly 65 per cent domestically — a reversal that underscores the progress made in domestic capability building.
He further elaborated that several items traditionally imported from abroad — such as fighter aircraft, missiles, engines, and electronic warfare systems — are now being produced within India. Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to raising domestic manufacturing levels to 100 per cent in the coming years, calling this transition crucial for strengthening national security and achieving long-term strategic autonomy.
The minister outlined the challenges India faced in the past, including excessive import dependency, limited participation from the private sector, and an absence of focus on high-end technology development. He said these constraints made the country reliant on foreign suppliers for critical equipment. However, he asserted that these weaknesses became the foundation for reform, prompting India to rethink its defence strategy and push aggressively toward innovation and self-sufficiency. “This challenge encouraged us to move forward with new thinking and reforms. The results are visible today,” Singh said.
Providing key data, he highlighted that India’s annual defence production value has more than tripled — from ₹46,429 crore in 2014–15 to over ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2024–25. During the same period, defence exports surged to ₹25,000 crore, compared to less than ₹1,000 crore a decade ago. Setting an ambitious target, Singh announced that the government aims to raise domestic defence production to ₹3 lakh crore and exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
He also addressed the rapidly changing nature of warfare, emphasising the growing significance of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, cyber warfare, unmanned systems, and next-generation aircraft. “India must always stay ahead in this new race, and not lag behind,” he said, urging HAL and other domestic defence firms to invest more in developing cutting-edge technologies and diversifying into the civil aviation sector.
Praising Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for its consistent performance, Singh called the organisation the “backbone of India’s defence sector.” He acknowledged HAL’s contributions to the Indian Air Force, including its support for the MiG-21 fleet before its recent decommissioning and its technical assistance during critical operations such as Operation Sindoor.
HAL’s new LCA Mk1A production line was completed in just two years, a development Singh described as a testament to the company’s growing efficiency and technological maturity. The facility is equipped with over 30 advanced assembly jigs for key aircraft modules and can produce eight aircraft per year. With this addition, HAL’s total annual production capacity for Tejas aircraft now stands at 24. The Nashik division also continues to provide repair and overhaul support for the Indian Air Force’s Su-30 MKI fleet.
Concluding his address, Rajnath Singh emphasised the importance of collaboration among the government, private industry, and academic institutions in building a robust defence ecosystem. He asserted that such partnerships would play a decisive role in ensuring India’s goal of complete self-reliance in defence manufacturing, positioning the country as a global leader in indigenous defence technology.
