Rajnath to unveil HAL's 3rd Tejas line in Nashik today

New facility set to raise Tejas Mk1A annual production from 16 to 24 jets

- BHASWAR KUMAR

Hindustan Aeronautics’ (HAL) effort to raise the annual production capacity of the light combat aircraft Tejas Mark 1A (MR1A) from 16 to 24 jets will get a major push on Friday, when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates the third production line for the indigenous fighter at the company’s Nashik facility and witnesses the maiden flight of the first jet rolled out from there.

The first Tejas Mk1A from the third line is fully assembled and has completed all pre-flight tests, HAL executives said, adding that two more aircraft were already under production at the Nashik facility. The second jet could be ready for its first flight by the end of December, and the third a month later, they said. Set up within two years with an internal investment of roughly %500 crore, the Nashik line has an installed production capacity of eight aircraft per year.