India’s state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) continues to enjoy a strong order book at present, including contracts for the supply of 180 ‘Tejas’ Light Combat Aircraft, 156 ‘Prachand’ attack helicopters, and 34 ‘Dhruv’ advanced light helicopters.
According to a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence report tabled in parliament this week, the Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) also has five of the 4.5-generation Tejas Mk1A aircraft ready for delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“We have successfully completed the integration of the radar and DTU (Data Transfer Unit). We have also successfully completed the ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) testing for air-to-air missiles and the ASTRA beyond-visual-range missile,” HAL’s CMD Dr D. K. Sunil told the committee.
“These tests have been successful for the Tejas Mark 1 Alpha (Mk-1A). Furthermore, we have opened the third line at Nashik for the Tejas to enhance (production) capacity to twenty-four. Additionally, we have established a second line for the HTT-40 in Nashik for production, and we have already produced the first three aircraft,” the report quoted the HAL CMD as informing.
The committee tabled its report on ‘Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence for the year 2026–27 on Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services) – New DPSUs, Directorate General of Quality Assurance, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, and National Cadet Corps,’ in Parliament on Wednesday (March 18, 2026).
The report quoted the HAL CMD that the DPSU maintained a “comfortable order book position.” HAL is currently executing projects worth Rs 2,22,182 crore with deliveries scheduled till March 2034. The order book included the Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT-40) and Dornier (Do-228) transport aircraft.
“We have delivered 72 Dhruv helicopters. For Dornier, in the current year, we have a large order for the mid-life upgrade. For Prachand, we have delivered 15 in advance, and they are already in the field. Based on that, we received orders for 156 units from the Army and Air Force,” HAL informed the committee.
“Currently, we have an order for supplying 34 Dhruv, 180 Tejas (Mk-1A), and 156 Prachand, which is the attack helicopter,” Dr. Sunil told the panel. These projects apart, the company also had orders for 12 Su-30 MKIs, leading to the reopening of the production line for these fighter jets that was closed in 2019.
“We have also received an order for 240 AL31FP engines. We are already delivering these engines. This year, we will be delivering them in batches of 30,” he said.
In December 2024, the Ministry of Defence signed the contract for the 12 Sukhoi combat aircraft along with associated equipment worth Rs 13,500 crore, with the jets integrated 62.6% indigenous content.