HAL’s Nashik division, historically known as the backbone of India’s Soviet-era fighter jet production, has undergone a sweeping transformation, reported Manu Pubby of ET News.

After building nearly 1,000 Russian-origin aircraft—including 575 MiG-21s and hundreds of Su-30MKIs—the facility has now been repurposed to produce indigenous fighters, marking a decisive end to six decades of foreign dependency in combat aircraft assembly.

The shift represents a milestone in India’s drive toward Atmanirbharta (Self-Reliance) in defence manufacturing. The combat aircraft complex at Nashik has been revitalised with advanced infrastructure dedicated to the production of the TEJAS MK-1A and HTT-40 trainer aircraft.

The modernisation underscores India’s evolving defence ecosystem, focusing on indigenous technologies and reduced import reliance.

HAL has established a new TEJAS MK-1A production line within the Nashik complex, backed by an investment of ₹500 crore. Spanning over 1.3 million square feet, the facility features new generation equipment such as precision jigs, advanced fixtures, and robotic assembly tools.

The new line incorporates more than 30 dedicated jigs for key structural assemblies—covering the centre and front fuselage, rear fuselage, wings, and air intake modules.

The Nashik assembly line will start with an annual production capacity of eight TEJAS MK-1A fighters. When combined with HAL’s two other lines in Bengaluru, the total output will reach around 24 fighters per year.

However, to maintain optimal fighter squadron strength and replace ageing aircraft like the MiG-21s, India’s defence planners target a national capacity of at least 30–40 aircraft per year. HAL aims to progressively scale up production as supply chain maturity improves.

While the majority of Nashik’s infrastructure now supports indigenous aircraft programs, a portion of the facility remains active for completing the upcoming batch of 15 Su-30MKI fighters ordered by the Indian Air Force.

This ensures continuity in supporting the backbone of India’s heavy fighter fleet while parallelly integrating fully indigenous platforms.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the first public flight of the TEJAS MK-1A assembled at Nashik. The event carries symbolic weight—marking the official transition from imported manufacturing lines to indigenous aviation production capability. It signals the conclusion of India’s long-standing reliance on licensed Soviet/Russian designs for fighter assembly.

Alongside the TEJAS production line, Nashik has also inaugurated a second assembly line for the HTT-40 basic trainer—another fully indigenous aircraft designed and developed by HAL. With manufacturing now distributed across Bangalore and Nashik, HAL aims to accelerate deliveries of the HTT-40 to the Indian Air Force to replace ageing trainer fleets and strengthen domestic pilot training programs.

The revamped Nashik complex integrates advanced digital manufacturing tools, automated alignment systems, and quality assurance modules consistent with Industry 4.0 standards. The transformation not only boosts aircraft output but also enhances skill development, indigenous supply chain integration, and ecosystem growth for Indian aerospace vendors and start-ups contributing components for the TEJAS and HTT-40.

HAL Nashik’s evolution symbolises more than an industrial modernisation—it marks India’s entry into a new phase of independent combat aircraft production. With self-sustaining production hubs now operational across multiple states, the Indian Air Force stands to benefit from steady fighter induction, enhanced operational readiness, and secure logistical autonomy for decades ahead.

Based On ET News Report