Rajnath Singh inaugurates third LCA Mk1A and second HTT-40 production lines at HAL Nashik
On 17 October 2025 at HAL's Nashik facility in Maharashtra, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the third production line of LCA Tejas Mk1A and the second production line of the HTT-40 trainer, and flagged off the first LCA Mk1A made there.
Summary
On 17 October 2025 at the Nashik facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Maharashtra, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the third production line of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the second production line of the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), and flagged off the first LCA Mk1A produced there. HAL set up the third Mk1A line in a record two years with more than 30 structure assembly jigs; it can produce eight aircraft a year, taking HAL's total LCA Mk1A capacity to 24 aircraft a year. The Nashik division was established in 1964 for licence manufacture of the MiG-21 and has produced more than 900 aircraft and overhauled more than 1,900. The Raksha Mantri said annual defence production rose from Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15 to over Rs 1.50 lakh crore in 2024-25, and exports to an all-time high of Rs 25,000 crore.
Key facts
- Date/place
- 17 Oct 2025, HAL Nashik, Maharashtra
- Lines
- 3rd LCA Tejas Mk1A line; 2nd HTT-40 line
- Mk1A capacity
- New line 8/year; HAL total 24/year
- Set up in
- Two years; 30+ structure assembly jigs
- Nashik division
- Est. 1964 for MiG-21 licence manufacture; 900+ built, 1,900+ overhauled
- Defence production
- Rs 46,429 crore (2014-15) → over Rs 1.50 lakh crore (2024-25); exports Rs 25,000 crore
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The third production line of LCA Tejas Mk1A, inaugurated on 17 October 2025, is located at which HAL facility?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Nashik
PIB: the Raksha Mantri inaugurated the third LCA Mk1A production line and the second HTT-40 line at HAL's Nashik facility.
With the third LCA Mk1A line operational, what is HAL's total production capacity for the aircraft per year?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 24
PIB: the new line can produce eight aircraft per annum, and with it HAL achieves a total production capacity of 24 aircraft per year.
Consider the following statements: 1. HAL's Nashik division was established in 1964 for the licence manufacture of the MiG-21. 2. The HTT-40 production line inaugurated at Nashik on 17 October 2025 is HAL's first production line for the trainer. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the Nashik division was established in 1964 for licence manufacture of MiG-21; the line inaugurated at Nashik is the second HTT-40 production line.