Nashik, Oct. 17 -- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday inaugurated the third Production Line of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the second Production Line of Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) at the Nashik facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). He also flagged off the first LCA Mk1A produced at the facility.

In his address, the Defence Minister described the flight of the state-of-the-art aircraft as a shining symbol of India's growing Aatmanirbharta in defence. Highlighting the transformation of the defence sector over the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asserted that the country, which once imported 65-70 per cent of its critical military hardware, is now manufacturing 65...