HAL tells Parliament panel it has orders for 34 Dhruv, 180 Tejas Mk-1A, 156 Prachand

NEW DELHI: State-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has informed a parliamentary panel on defence that it currently holds orders for 34 Dhruv helicopters, 180 LCA Tejas Mk-1A aircraft and 156 Prachand light combat helicopters for the armed forces.HAL told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that five Tejas Mk-1A aircraft are ready for delivery. It said key systems, including radar integration and weapon trials such as ASRAAM and ASTRA missiles, have been successfully completed, according to news agency PTI.The company has also ramped up production capacity, opening a third Tejas assembly line in Nashik to raise output to 24 aircraft annually, and setting up a second line for the HTT-40 trainer aircraft.HAL said it maintains a "comfortable order book", with ongoing projects worth over Rs 2.22 lakh crore, with deliveries scheduled up to 2034.The company added that it has already delivered 72 Dhruv helicopters and 15 Prachand helicopters, with the latter now deployed in operational roles. It has also secured fresh orders for 12 Su-30MKI aircraft and 240 AL31FP engines, with deliveries underway.The parliamentary panel noted wide variations in order book positions among defence public sector undertakings, attributing it to differences in product lines and competitive bidding. It urged DPSUs to expand into global markets and emphasised greater focus on innovation, artificial intelligence and modernisation to strengthen defence production capabilities.