Rajnath Singh inaugurates HAL's second LCA production line

Bengaluru, Feb 02: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft's second production line here on Tuesday, according to HAL officials.

Addressing the gathering at the inaugural function of HAL's Second LCA Production Line, the defence minister said, "I have been informed that several counties have expressed interest in procuring Tejas M1A and I assure you that you will get orders from other counties very soon. "

"I am confident that in the next 3-4 years, we will achieve the target of Rs 1.75 lakh crores in the field of defence manufacturing," He further said.

The event comes a day before the opening of the Aero India 2021, the country's premier aerospace and Defence exhibition, commencing at Air Force Station Yelahanka here on Wednesday.

The delivery of the Tejas LCA to the Indian Air Force under a Rs 48,000-crore deal will begin from March 2024 and around 16 aircraft will be rolled out annually till the completion of the total supply of 83 jets, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited R Madhavan said recently.

Madhavan had also said that a number of countries have shown keen interest in procurement of the Tejas aircraft and that the first export order is likely to come by in the next couple of years.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13approved the Rs 48,000-crore deal to procure 73 Tejas Mk-1A variantsand 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft from the HAL to boost the Indian Air Force's combat prowess.