Defence Minister Rajnath Singh calls for Integrated Civil-Military Aerospace Ecosystem

By R Anil Kumar

Bengaluru, Sep 18, 2026. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called for an integrated ecosystem catering to the needs of both civil and military aviation. He also flagged delays in defence technology projects, saying they need to be taken seriously as they can create gaps in crucial defence requirements and lead to cost escalation.

“There are some issues on which we need to work. One very important issue is that of delays. For various reasons, including technological reasons, many of our technical projects that are under way also face delays. We will have to take these delays seriously,” Singh said.

He said there were instances where, by the time a particular technology or equipment was developed and produced, better technology had emerged elsewhere, making the earlier technology outdated.

Project timelines, therefore, need to be kept realistic, Singh said.

“We need to develop an ecosystem that can effectively address the requirements of both the civil and military aviation sectors,” Singh said during a ceremony at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to hand over Light Combat Aircraft Tejas twin-seater trainers and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force and Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited.

“Developing technologies indigenously is the need of the hour for India, as the nature of warfare is changing rapidly,” he said.

He underlined that the public and private sectors should not be viewed as competitors but as organisations that complement each other.

“Let us not view the public and private sectors as competitors…There is a need for enhanced public-private synergy to build next-gen indigenous aerospace capabilities. By working together, we can accelerate the growth of India’s aerospace sector,” he said.

Singh stressed the need to prepare for the sector’s transformation through AI, autonomous and unmanned systems, electronic warfare, cyber technologies and next-generation propulsion, with a focus on their indigenous development and integration.

Highlighting the need for cutting-edge innovation and describing research and development as a crucial priority area, he urged scientists, engineers, designers, test pilots and technicians to develop technologies that do not exist today to meet future defence requirements.

He called upon them to develop capabilities that would secure a leading position for India in the global aerospace technology landscape over the coming decade.

Singh described the handover as a significant milestone in the nation’s progress towards indigenous aerospace capability, technological self-confidence and self-reliance.

“Our aim is to make India capable, self-reliant and globally competitive in meeting its aerospace requirements,” he said.

According to him, India is moving systematically towards Aatmanirbharta in defence, with the country manufacturing state-of-the-art equipment indigenously since the Narendra Modi-led government began pursuing the core mantra of self-reliance.

“We’ve taken steps to not only provide the opportunity to Defence Public Sector Undertakings to advance in the defence sector, but also encourage the private industry, ensuring a level playing field,” he added, while listing the steps taken by the Ministry of Defence to promote self-reliance.

Singh stressed the need to advance systematically in the aerospace sector, terming self-reliance in the domain the need of the hour.

“There can be no sudden big bang in the development of aerospace systems,” he said, noting that it was a vast and gradual process involving a wide range of components.

“All the products and components involved represent small rungs on a long ladder; we must move forward one step at a time,” Singh said.

He pointed out that there would be challenges, but said they needed to be viewed as milestones on a larger roadmap to achieve progress in a sector as complex and crucial as aerospace.

He termed the event a symbol of the growing synergy between civil aviation and defence aerospace capabilities, emphasising that the development of a robust aerospace industry should not be limited merely to meeting defence requirements.

“When capabilities such as aircraft design, avionics, propulsion, composite materials, flight control systems, manufacturing and certification are developed within the country, they benefit the entire aerospace sector,” he said.

Singh said an integrated aerospace ecosystem must be built to achieve self-reliance across every domain.

“I am confident of achieving this endeavour through our collective strength,” he said.

He asserted that the nature of warfare was rapidly evolving and that future air operations would be information-intensive and technology-driven.

Singh underscored the importance of developing complex systems indigenously, stating that combat effectiveness could only be ensured through a combination of well-trained personnel, advanced technology, integrated systems and rapid decision-making.

He expressed confidence that the LCA FOC Trainer would play a crucial role in preparing pilots for this demanding operational environment.

“While the Dhruv-NG exemplifies our indigenous civil aerospace prowess, LCA FOC Trainer stands as a symbol of indigenous military aerospace capability and the maturity of its fighter aircraft ecosystem,” he added.

On the HTT-40, Singh said India had, for years, relied on imported aircraft to meet its basic training requirements, but HAL was now indigenously manufacturing the HTT-40 to cater to the needs of the IAF.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu praises HAL’s milestone in indigenous aerospace production

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu commended India’s rapid progress in indigenous defence manufacturing on September 18, noting that the nation’s annual defence production has nearly quadrupled since 2013-14.

As part of an initiative to strengthen ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) officially handed over the first indigenous HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft and LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Trainers to the Indian Air Force. Additionally, HAL delivered civil-certified Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH Dhruv NG) to Pawan Hans Limited.

Extending his congratulations to HAL, Naidu stated, “My deepest congratulations to HAL. Under the leadership of PM Modi, it has given the nation the most important milestone in aerospace. It showcased the power of Aatmanirbharta of Bharat. The whole nation is celebrating the Seva Saptah program, and today HAL is making its contribution of Seva. And I call it Seva through Science.”

He described this achievement as a defining moment for the sector, adding, “I see the handing over of these ‘Made in India’ platforms as one of the most historic advancements that we are going to see in Indian aviation and defence. This is not merely the delivery of these aircraft; it represents a monumental leap in our journey towards self-reliance, Atmanirbharta in aerospace manufacturing. From chips to ships, the vision that PM Modi has placed before the nation is now becoming a reality right in front of our eyes.”

Naidu also highlighted the sector’s growth, noting, “India’s annual defence production is nearly four times what it was in 2013-14, and today our armed forces meet around 80 percent of their requirements through indigenous procurement.”

Using a cricket analogy to illustrate India’s evolving military capabilities, he said, “In cricket, when you talk about defence, it is always about playing the right kind of defence so that you save the wicket. But in Indian defence, it is not only about saving the wicket, but about hitting the ball right out of the park.”

LCA Mk1A Almost Ready: HAL CMD K RaviOn Radar Progress, Pending Tests and Delivery Timeline

HAL CMD Ravi K speaks to R. Anil Kumar (Doordarshan) ahead ofhanding over ceremonyon the LCA Mk1A’s radar integration, pending flight tests, engine supply challenges and the timeline for deliveries

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is in the closing stages of fitting radar and weapons to the light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. However, a round of flight tests is still pending before the work can be signed off, its chairman and managing director Ravi K, said.

In an interview, he said that most of the integration is complete, but a handful of radar issues and system checks remain. The missile system has already been integrated, though it too needs further testing.

Radar At 90 To 95%, Dozens of Sorties Still to Go

According to Ravi, the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar is close to being fully operational; he put the figure at 90 to 95%. However, the last stretch calls for repeated rounds of flying, checking and fixing.

He described the process as a cycle: fly the aircraft, run the tests and, if an issue is identified, send the findings back for a software fix. The updated software is then installed on the aircraft before it flies again for another round of testing. Ravi estimated that the process would require another 20-30 sorties.

An AESA radar has never flown on the LCA platform before, he added, which is why the process is taking as long as it is. New capabilities on a new platform inevitably throw up problems that were not anticipated.

Asked whether HAL had sought clearance from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to proceed despite the pending work, Ravi said the company had informed officials that the aircraft was over 80% ready and asked whether it could proceed. He added that HAL intends to complete all the outstanding work regardless.

27 Airframes, 10 Engines Ready

HAL currently has 27 airframes and 10 engines ready, Ravi said, and the company expects to begin deliveries within the current financial year. He was more cautious about numbers looking further ahead, declining to commit to a delivery figure for March 2027 because engine supply remains uncertain.

He said General Electric (GE) had indicated 17 engines would be delivered.

The Defence Ministry inked a contract for the LCA Mk1A in February 2021 worth ₹48,000 crore, covering 83 aircraft (73 fighters and 10 trainers). Deliveries were originally scheduled to begin within three years, by 2024, and conclude by 2030.

Notably, HAL has changed how it engages with GE and its component suppliers after repeated delays. Earlier, the company’s discussions were largely confined to GE itself, focusing on delivery numbers and timelines. The firm has since started approaching GE’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers directly to understand where the bottlenecks actually lie, Ravi said.

The company has also offered to manufacture some components itself, pointing suppliers to its in-house casting facilities. HAL has begun sending its own staff to supplier factories, including Tier 2 sites, rather than relying only on assurances given in meetings, he said, adding that this practice is now standard across HAL’s supplier base whenever a delay comes up.

HAL Expands Helicopter Development Efforts

Beyond fighters, HAL is expanding work across helicopters, unmanned systems, trainer aircraft and artificial intelligence (AI).

On the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), it has started building structures at its Bengaluru and Tumakuru facilities, while outsourcing some non-core structural work to Adani and BEML, among others, so the company can concentrate on integration, which Ravi called its core activity.

Adani and BEML will supply structures; HAL will handle integration, including sensors and systems. He said that the firm is confident of meeting the LCH contract’s delivery schedule.

Additionally, work continues on the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), for which HAL has signed an engine-development contract with the French firm Safranon a 50:50 basis, with each company designing half the engine, to be built jointly in India through their joint venture, SAFHAL.

Preliminary design reviews have begun for both the helicopter’s structure and its other components, Ravi said.

The programme does not yet have a confirmed order, though the company is in talks with the armed forces to secure one.

HAL Advances Unmanned and Trainer Programmes

The company is also developing two unmanned platforms it is keeping largely under wraps for now, Ravi said, so that it can unveil them at Aero India.

The first, CATS Warrior, is an unmanned combat aircraft designed to be controlled by a fighter such as the LCA or the Su-30MKI, with the ability to fire or drop weapons; its prototype is under development. The second is a rotary unmanned aerial vehicle (RUAV), whose prototype is being built, with a first flight planned this year.

It is preparing to hand over two to three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft on Friday, Ravi said.

On the Dhruv NG helicopter, HAL has held back on marketing while awaiting certification, telling interested buyers it would follow up once that came through. Ravi said certification will be given, after which the company plans a more active sales push. Several state governments have already shown interest, he said.

The Defence Ministry signed a ₹6,828 crore contract with HAL in March 2023 for the procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft. Under the original delivery schedule, the induction was to commence on September 15, 2025, with all 70 aircraft to be delivered by March 15, 2030.

HAL plans to deliver eight Dhruv NG helicopters by the end of the year.

AI and a Push for New Export Markets

HAL is exploring AI in two areas, Ravi said, supporting day-to-day operations and helping pilots use AI tools within the cockpit. Because defence requirements differ from commercial ones, he said HAL cannot simply adopt off-the-shelf AI systems and is looking for a partner to help build one suited to defence use.

On exports, it has supplied H228 aircraft to Guyana and reports interest from several other countries – Nigeria among them – for Dornier aircraft, along with leads for the Dhruv and LCH.

Ravi said HAL’s broader aim is to grow the overall market for its platforms rather than compete only for existing buyers, pointing to newer uses such as medical services alongside established ones like religious functions and charter operations.

HAL handed over LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Twin Seater Trainers and HTT 40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force and Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singhand Minister of Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu in Bengaluru.

Notably, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹7,989 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 2016 for the procurement of 20 LCA Tejas aircraft in the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration for the Indian Air Force.