Story perspectives

HAL delivers two LCA trainers to Indian Air Force

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 4:39 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

HAL delivered two LCA twin-seat trainers to the Indian Air Force, completing the 2010 FOC contract.
HAL handed over four Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans, part of a Rs 1,800 crore ten-helicopter order.
The first three serial-production HTT-40 basic trainers, named Ankur, were delivered under a Rs 6,838-crore contract for 70 aircraft.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu attended the Bengaluru ceremony on September 18, 2026.

History

Historical Context

HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft first flew on 4 January 2001, launching India’s indigenous fighter effort that later secured a December 2010 order for 40 Tejas jets. Decades of development, including the 2006 contract for 20 LCA units, have enabled recent multi-billion-rupee deliveries of twin-seat trainers, Dhruv NG helicopters and HTT-40 trainers to the IAF and Pawan Hans.

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Story summary

HAL delivered two LCA twin-seat trainers to the Indian Air Force, completing the 2010 FOC contract.
HAL handed over four Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans, part of a Rs 1,800 crore ten-helicopter order.
The first three serial-production HTT-40 basic trainers, named Ankur, were delivered under a Rs 6,838-crore contract for 70 aircraft.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu attended the Bengaluru ceremony on September 18, 2026.

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