HAL hands over Aircraft and Helicopters to IAF and Pawan Hans

On September 18, 2026, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainer aircraft and three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, as well as four Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited in Bengaluru.

Key Highlights

Tejas Trainer: The two LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers delivered to the Indian Air Force represent the final two trainer aircraft under the FOC contract.
HTT-40: Three indigenous HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft were handed over to the Air Force, marking the beginning of HTT-40 deliveries under a 70-aircraft contract.
Dhruv-NG: Four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters were handed over to Pawan Hans Limited, marking a major milestone for the civil-certified Dhruv-NG's entry into the civil aviation sector.
Civil Applications: The Dhruv-NG can be utilized for civilian roles such as passenger/VIP transport, offshore operations, heli-tourism, and medical evacuations.
Self-Reliance: This delivery is considered a significant step toward bolstering India's indigenous aerospace manufacturing capability and achieving self-reliance in both military and civil aviation sectors.