Nashik emerges as major hub for India’s aircraft production

The city of Nashik, traditionally recognized for its wine production, is now transitioning into a significant center for aircraft manufacturing in India. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is setting up new production lines for the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) planes to meet the growing demands of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The new production lines will expedite the delivery of the 83 fighters ordered by IAF for ₹48,000 crore in February 2021, reducing the delivery time by at least a year. This follows an announcement from IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari about plans to order an additional 97 LCA Mk-1As at an estimated cost of ₹67,000 crore (INR100 crore = approx. USD12 million).

Currently, HAL can manufacture 16 LCA Mk-1As annually in Bengaluru. The Nashik line will increase this capacity to 24 jets per year. The first Mk-1A is expected to be delivered to the IAF in February 2024, with the final jet from the batch of 83 due by 2028.

On Tuesday, HAL delivered the first trainer version of LCA Mk-1 to Chaudhari in Bengaluru as part of an earlier order for 40 Mk-1 jets. The IAF has already inducted 32 single-seater jets and established two LCA squadrons. Seven more twin-seater aircraft are expected to be delivered by March 2024.

The LCA project, initiated in 1983 as a replacement for the Soviet-origin MiG-21 fighter fleet, will see its existing Mk-1 and Mk-1A variants replace IAF’s MiG-21 fighters. The Mk-2 variant is being planned as a replacement for IAF’s retiring MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s, and Jaguar fighters.

In addition to the LCA production, HAL has been awarded a ₹6,838-crore contract by the defense ministry in March for 70 HTT-40 planes. Production of these basic trainers is set to begin in Nashik in 2025-26, according to DK Sunil, director (engineering and R&D), HAL. A repeat order for an additional 35 HTT-40s is likely.

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