Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday handed over two LCA Tejas twin-seater trainer aircraft in Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration and the first HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, while four Dhruv Next Generation (Dhruv-NG) helicopters were handed over to Pawan Hans Limited.
The handover ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, marking a significant milestone for India’s indigenous aerospace manufacturing capabilities across military aviation, pilot training and civil helicopter operations.
The delivery of the two Tejas FOC twin-seaters completes the twin-seater deliveries under the original FOC contract. At the same time, the handover of the first HTT-40 marks the beginning of deliveries under the Ministry of Defence’s contract for 70 basic trainer aircraft. The Dhruv-NG handover marks the beginning of deliveries under the corresponding contract with Pawan Hans.
The HTT-40 was formally named “Ankur” during the ceremony. Designed by HAL’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre, the indigenous basic trainer aircraft has been developed to meet the primary training requirements of the Indian Defence Services and support multiple stages of basic pilot training.
The HTT-40 is designed for basic flying training, aerobatics, general handling, instrument flying, navigation, night flying and close formation flying. It is supported by a broader training ecosystem that includes a Cockpit Procedure Trainer, Full Base Fixed Mission Simulator and computer-based training systems.
Powered by a 1,100 SHP turboprop engine, Ankur has a maximum speed of 300 knots, a normal training weight of 2,960 kg, a service ceiling of 6,000 metres and a range of approximately 1,000 km. Its endurance is around three hours, supported by a fuel capacity of 450 kg.
The aircraft has an 11-metre wingspan, a length of 10.06 metres and a height of 3.5 metres. It is designed to withstand a maximum load factor of +6/-3g and incorporates an ejection seat, an air-conditioned cockpit and modern avionics intended to support contemporary military pilot training.
The HTT-40 first flew on May 31, 2016, and subsequently underwent an extensive development, evaluation and validation programme involving HAL and the IAF. The trials covered handling qualities, stability and control, systems performance, engine relight, hot-weather operations, sea-level operations, crosswind operations, night flying, range and endurance.
Its introduction provides the IAF with an indigenous platform for the foundational stage of military flying training. The basic trainer is an important part of the pilot training pipeline, allowing trainee pilots to develop essential flying skills before progressing to more advanced aircraft.
The Tejas handover, meanwhile, completes an important milestone in India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme. A contract for 16 LCA fighter aircraft and four FOC twin-seaters was placed by the Ministry of Defence and the IAF with HAL in 2010.
All 16 FOC fighter aircraft were delivered during 2022-23. The twin-seater programme subsequently reached the Release to Service milestone in September 2023, while deliveries of the FOC trainers began in 2024-25 with aircraft SPT5 and SPT6.
The final two aircraft, SPT7 and SPT8, incorporate a number of enhancements. According to HAL, these include improvements to radar performance, autopilot handling, the fuel system and avionics software, along with an air-to-air refuelling probe. Software Defined Radio was incorporated into the final two aircraft during November-December 2025.
The LCA FOC Trainer is a lightweight, all-weather, multi-role aircraft intended primarily to support the IAF’s Tejas training requirements while retaining fighter operational capability. Its design incorporates relaxed static stability, a quadruplex fly-by-wire flight-control system, carefree manoeuvring, an advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics and advanced composite materials.
HAL is also looking beyond the completed FOC twin-seater programme towards LCA Mk1A trainers being developed under the 83- and 97-aircraft contracts. According to the company, the trainers under these contracts will progressively incorporate enhanced capabilities, with the aircraft under the 97-aircraft contract incorporating capabilities of the Mk1A fighter.
The planned capabilities include Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, an electronic warfare suite, avionics upgrades, modernised mission and display systems, LDP4i integration, IRNSS, the HMDAS DASH V helmet-mounted display system and additional weapons capabilities, including beyond-visual-range and advanced short-range air-to-air missiles. HAL has stated that it aims to deliver 29 Mk1A twin-seaters to the IAF by 2033-34.
The third platform handed over during the ceremony was the Dhruv-NG helicopter. Four helicopters were delivered to Pawan Hans, marking the entry of the civil-certified Dhruv-NG into the civil aviation segment.
The Dhruv-NG is a 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter developed by HAL for demanding operating conditions in India and adapted for the requirements of the global civil aviation market. HAL describes it as India’s first indigenously produced civil helicopter meeting AS-4 requirements, making it suitable for offshore operations.
The helicopter is powered by twin Shakti 1H1C engines and features a civil-certified glass cockpit, modern avionics, advanced navigation systems and enhanced situational awareness capabilities. Its safety features include crashworthy seats, self-sealing fuel tanks and a twin-engine configuration providing redundancy.
The Dhruv-NG has a configurable cabin that can be adapted for a range of civilian roles. These include VIP and VVIP transportation, passenger and utility operations, air ambulance missions, specialised offshore operations, law enforcement, disaster relief and search-and-rescue activities.
For passenger operations, the cabin can accommodate up to 14 passengers, while the VIP/VVIP configuration can provide seating for four to six passengers. Its air ambulance configuration can accommodate four stretchers along with a doctor and an attendant.
HAL is also offering integrated after-sales and lifecycle support for the Dhruv-NG. Support provisions include Power-by-Hour and Performance-Based Logistics models aimed at maintaining fleet serviceability and providing structured long-term support.
The simultaneous handover of the three platforms highlights the breadth of HAL’s aerospace manufacturing portfolio. While the Tejas twin-seaters support advanced fighter training, the HTT-40 addresses basic military pilot training and the Dhruv-NG expands the indigenous helicopter’s presence into civil aviation.
The event also demonstrates the progression of multiple indigenous aerospace programmes from development and certification to production and delivery. For the IAF, the induction of the HTT-40 provides a domestic solution for basic training, while the Tejas twin-seater strengthens the training ecosystem surrounding India’s indigenous fighter aircraft.
For the civil aviation sector, the Dhruv-NG handover to Pawan Hans represents an important step in expanding the use of domestically manufactured helicopters for civilian applications. Its multi-role configuration gives operators the flexibility to employ the platform across passenger, utility, emergency and specialised missions.
The triple handover therefore represents more than the delivery of individual aircraft. It brings together indigenous capabilities in fighter aviation, basic pilot training and civil rotary-wing operations, reflecting the expanding scope of India’s domestic aerospace industry.
HAL’s latest milestone also underscores the importance of developing an ecosystem that extends beyond aircraft production to include design, testing, certification, avionics, training systems, maintenance and lifecycle support. These capabilities are essential for sustaining indigenous aviation platforms over their operational lives.
With the completion of the Tejas FOC twin-seater deliveries, the beginning of HTT-40 “Ankur” deliveries and the entry of Dhruv-NG into civil aviation through Pawan Hans, HAL has marked a significant day for India’s indigenous aerospace sector. The three programmes collectively demonstrate the country’s continuing effort to strengthen domestic aerospace capability across military and civil applications.
