Wing Assembly Handover Ceremony.
HAL Receives First LCA Mk1A Wing Assemblies from L&T, Propelling ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in Aerospace: COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU – July 17, 2025 – In a significant stride towards India’s goal of self-reliance in defense manufacturing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) today received the inaugural set of wing assemblies for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. These critical components were produced by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and formally handed over at L&T’s Precision Manufacturing & Systems Complex unit in Coimbatore.
The event, attended virtually by Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, marked a pivotal moment in the collaborative efforts between public and private sector entities to bolster indigenous aerospace capabilities. M Abdul Salam, General Manager (LCA Tejas Division), received the assemblies on behalf of HAL, symbolizing the deepening partnership aimed at accelerating the LCA Tejas program.
In his address, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar lauded the concerted efforts of both HAL and L&T, emphasizing their commitment to achieving self-reliance. He particularly commended HAL for its leadership in fostering collaboration with various private sector partners, nurturing their capabilities, and ensuring an enhanced overall production ecosystem. Expressing strong confidence, he stated his belief in the nation’s ability to meet the ambitious production targets for the LCA Tejas and urged for an expansion of horizons to further reduce dependency on foreign countries for defense hardware.
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Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), India.
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Dr. DK Sunil, CMD, HAL, who was physically present during the handover, described the occasion as a “testament to years of dedicated hand-holding and a shared commitment to excellence from HAL and L&T.” He elaborated on HAL’s strategic initiative to work closely with both large and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in the aerospace and defense sector. Dr. Sunil highlighted a key outcome of these efforts: “HAL has effectively built a parallel aircraft structural assembly line in the private sector which will help in capacity augmentation of the LCA Tejas program.”
Echoing the sentiment of increased production, Arun Ramchandani, Senior Vice President & Head, L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, confirmed L&T‘s readiness to supply four wing sets annually. He further outlined plans to significantly scale up production to 12 sets per annum through the implementation of advanced assembly processes and automation, signaling a robust commitment to the LCA program’s future needs.
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This latest delivery from L&T is part of a broader network of indigenous suppliers contributing to the LCA Mk1A. To date, the LCA Tejas Division has successfully integrated structural modules from a diverse range of Indian partners. These include Air Intake Assemblies from Lakshmi Machine Works, Rear Fuselage Assembly from Alpha Tocol, Loom Assemblies from Amphenol, Fin & Rudder Assemblies from Tata Advanced Systems, Centre Fuselage Assembly from VEM Technologies, and now, Wing Assemblies from Larsen & Toubro. This comprehensive indigenous supply chain underscores India’s growing prowess in complex aerospace manufacturing and its unwavering resolve to build a self-reliant defense industry.
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