HAL Establishes Second Tejas Fighter Jet Production Line

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has established a second line series production of Tejas fighter jet.

The new production line has come up at Aircraft Division in December 2016, with the facility being equipped with full-fledged assembly jigs.

Currently Tejas SP-5 is being integrated here, while SP-4 already moved to the final stages of systems checking at the LCA Division, Mathrubumi reported today.

HAL has converted the erstwhile Kiran hangar to set up this additional production line. The second line when operational is capable to produce three aircraft per year.

HAL Chairman T Suvarna Raju assured that the SP-4 and SP-5 would be flying soon.The additional facility has been set up notwithstanding the approval from Ministry of Defence for another Tejas production line.

This is to augment the Tejas production so that the Indian Air Force could strengthen the No 45 Squadron. HAL awaits the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security nod for the third Tejas production line.

Around 30,000 sq meters of HAL land has been identified near Nekkundi for setting up structural assembly hangar, process shop and sheet metal shop, among others.

V Sridharan, ED of LCA Division who recently visited Tejas facilities, gave an update on the series of new initiatives taken by HAL.

“We have established a new tarmac for the No 45 Squadron for day and night operations. A second dedicated drop tank test rig also has come up now, in addition to a new storage area space as well,” said Sridharan.

He said during the outstation detachment at AFS Thanjavur recently, SP-1 and SP-2 flew seven sorties in a single day.

A 2400 sqm LCA Final Assembly hangar with annexe building has already been established.