The city of Nashik is currently becoming into a prominent hub for aircraft manufacture in India.

To fulfil the expanding needs of the Indian Air Force (IAF), state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is establishing new production lines for the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) aircraft.

The 83 fighters that the IAF bought in February 2021 for 48,000 crore will be delivered faster thanks to the new production lines, cutting down on delivery time by at least a year.

This comes after IAF head Air head Marshal VR Chaudhari disclosed plans to order an extra 97 LCA Mk-1As at a price tag of approximately INR 67,000 crore (US$12 million).

Currently, HAL can manufacture 16 LCA Mk-1As annually in Bengaluru. The Nashik line will increase this capacity to 24 jets per year. The first Mk-1A is expected to be delivered to the IAF in February 2024, with the final jet from the batch of 83 due by 2028.

On Tuesday, HAL delivered the first trainer version of LCA Mk-1 to Chaudhari in Bengaluru as part of an earlier order for 40 Mk-1 jets. The IAF has already inducted 32 single-seater jets and established two LCA squadrons. Seven more twin-seater aircraft are expected to be delivered by March 2024.