Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Bengaluru-based defence manufacturer, has announced that it has received the second central fuselage assembly for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ Mk1A from its industry partner, Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies. The delivery was completed in a record time of three months.In May this year, VEM Technologies chairman and managing director V. Venkat Raju had handed over the first central fuselage assembly unit to HAL chairman and managing director D. K. Sunil in the presence of Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar.The private sector firm also secured permission for the second assembly unit as production partner for HAL, thereby making it the fourth line of production for building LCA Mk1As, in addition to the two existing lines in HAL-Bengaluru and another one in HAL-Nashik. Company sources informed that three more central fuselages are being planned to be handed over to the HAL in the current financial year.Published - September 06, 2025 12:55 am IST