First Tejas Mk1A Fighter Aircraft Rolls Out from HAL Nashik, Receives Water Cannon Salute

The maiden flight of the first Tejas Mk1A fighter jet manufactured at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) plant in Nashik took place on Friday, thus establishing a remarkable milestone in the progression of the defence manufacturing sector of India. Just around the same time when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh officially opened HAL's LCA and HTT-40 assembly facilities at the location, the aircraft rollout occurred.

A traditional water cannon salute greeted the Tejas Mk1A, celebrating the first aircraft produced from the third LCA production line and second HTT-40 production line at Nashik. The fighter is part of HAL’s expanded production plan to strengthen the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet.

Pre-Induction Trials and Integration

The formal induction of the Tejas Mk1A into the IAF will follow the successful completion of weapon and radar integration trials. These tests include:

• Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
• Short-range missiles and laser-guided bombs
• Integration with the Israeli-origin ELTA ELM-2052 radar and fire-control system

Earlier, software issues had delayed some pre-induction tests, requiring adjustments before final validation.

HAL’s Production Ramp-Up

The Nashik facility forms a key part of HAL’s broader production strategy:

• Two operational lines already function in Bengaluru
• Third line at Nashik designed to produce up to 8 aircraft annually
• Private-sector partners such as VEM Technologies, Alpha, and L&T support an additional six aircraft per year

Once fully stabilised, HAL expects the ecosystem to enable annual production of 30 Tejas Mk1A fighters from 2026-27.

Engine Supply Challenges

HAL faces delays in the delivery of 99 GE F404 engines, contracted in August 2021 for ₹5,375 crore. Only four engines have been received so far. GE Aviation has assured supply of eight engines by March 2026 and around 20 per year thereafter. HAL has rotated available engines to keep test flights ongoing.

Orders and Strategic Importance

Initial order of 83 Tejas Mk1A fighters cleared in 2021, scheduled for delivery between 2024 and 2028

Additional 97 fighters approved in August 2025 for ₹66,500 crore, raising the total order to 180 aircraft

IAF Chief Air Marshal AP Singh has emphasised the urgency of new inductions, stating the force is “very badly off in numbers” and needs at least 40 fighters annually to maintain combat readiness. HAL officials remain confident that production targets will be met once the ecosystem is fully operational and integration issues resolved.

Event Highlights

Friday’s rollout event also featured a formation flight of the Tejas Mk1A, HTT-40, and Su-30MKI, showcasing India’s growing indigenous fighter capabilities.