Hyderabad: In a landmark development for India’s indigenous defence production, VEM Technologies, a private Indian firm, handed over the first centre fuselage assembly for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The handover ceremony was held in Hyderabad in the presence of Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), and Dr. D.K. Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL.
This marks the first time a major sub-assembly for the Tejas has been manufactured by a private Indian company – a significant step in bolstering India’s domestic defence ecosystem.
Accelerating Indigenous Defence Production
Speaking at the event, Secretary Sanjeev Kumar praised the collaboration between HAL and VEM Technologies, highlighting how such partnerships are accelerating Tejas Mk1A production and expanding India’s defence manufacturing capabilities. He noted that defence production is growing at an annual rate of 10%, alongside increasing defence exports – a trajectory enabled by the combined efforts of public sector units like HAL and private industry.
“Security and sovereignty of the country are paramount and cannot be achieved without our own manufacturing capabilities,” Kumar emphasized.
Fourth Production Line and Industry Expansion
HAL CMD Dr. D.K. Sunil called the event a “milestone” in establishing the fourth production line for the LCA Mk1A, complementing the existing lines at HAL-Bengaluru (2 lines) and HAL-Nashik (1 line). He expressed confidence that with private sector involvement in sub-assemblies, HAL will be able to scale up LCA production and meet IAF delivery schedules.
Building the Aerospace Ecosystem
HAL has taken a lead role in cultivating a national aerospace ecosystem, enabling private players with the transfer of critical know-how, jigs, and tooling infrastructure. Key industry partners include L&T, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), Alpha Tocol, VEM Technologies, and Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) — all now actively contributing to Tejas sub-assembly production.
Components already in production by private players include–
- Centre and rear fuselages
- Air intakes
- Fuel drop tanks
- Fins and rudders
- Pylons and wings
Scaling Up Through Strategic Outsourcing
HAL’s LCA Tejas Division has begun receiving critical structural modules in the Mk1A configuration, and plans are underway to expand this outsourcing model to upcoming platforms, including future variants of Tejas and other indigenous aircraft.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Action
HAL continues to champion the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by partnering with over 6,300 Indian vendors, including 2,448 MSMEs. In the past three years alone, HAL has placed orders worth ₹13,763 crore with domestic suppliers, creating thousands of jobs and boosting India’s high-tech manufacturing base.
With strategic industry participation and forward-looking policies, the delivery of this centre fuselage assembly marks not just an achievement in defence manufacturing, but a testament to India’s growing technological self-reliance.
