In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Precision Engineering and Systems has successfully dispatched the second wing set for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A.
The critical aerostructure was shipped from L&T’s Precision Manufacturing & Systems Complex in Coimbatore on 28 December 2025, setting a new production benchmark by completing the manufacturing cycle in just 128 days.
This rapid turnaround highlights the accelerating pace of the LCA programme, a cornerstone of the Indian Air Force's fleet modernisation.
The achievement serves as a strong indicator of the private sector's growing capability to meet stringent military timelines and quality standards.
Streamlining Production
Prior to the dispatch, the wing set underwent a comprehensive review by Shri Abdul Salam, General Manager (LCA) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).During his visit to the Coimbatore facility, Shri Salam assessed the manufacturing progress and was briefed by Ravishankar Thiyagarajan, GM & Head of L&T’s Aerospace Business.
Mr Thiyagarajan highlighted several process optimisations and manufacturing improvements implemented by the engineering team to drastically compress the production timeline.
Shri Salam commended the team for their efficiency and stressed the need to not only sustain this 128-day cycle but to continually aim for further reductions in future builds to support the nation's defence requirements.
Scaling for Future Demand
The delivery of a complete wing set in slightly over four months is a pivotal moment for L&T as it stabilises its assembly processes.This performance has reinforced confidence in the company’s ability to scale operations to match the induction schedule of the Indian Air Force.
With these new benchmarks in place, L&T has confirmed its readiness to deliver three wing sets annually per assembly jig.
This throughput is vital for HAL, the lead integrator for the Tejas programme, as it works to ensure a continuous flow of airframes for final assembly.
The wing of the Tejas Mk1A is a complex "wet wing" structure constructed largely from carbon-fibre composites, designed to carry fuel while withstanding high aerodynamic loads.
A Growing Partnership
This latest dispatch follows the delivery of the first LCA Mk1A wing set by L&T to HAL on 17 July 2025.The consistent performance by Larsen & Toubro underscores the maturing role of private Indian industries in complex aerospace manufacturing.
As the Tejas programme ramps up, such collaborations between public sector giants like HAL and private engineering firms are proving essential for India’s goal of self-reliance in defence technology.
