The drive for aerospace self-reliance in India gained strong strategic emphasis when the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, emphasised that aircraft manufacturers must deliver platforms according to the timelines laid down to keep the Indian Air Force operationally ready. These statements were made by the Chief of Air Staff while inaugurating a two-day national seminar ‘Aeronautics 2047’, in Bengaluru, organised by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
The event was to celebrate 25 years of flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the flagship self-reliant defence program. It brings together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders and academia to deliberate upon the future of Indian aeronautics.
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IAF’s Message: Operational Readiness Depends on Timelines-
In his address to the seminar, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh stated that timeliness in deliveries was vital in an era of fast-changing security scenarios. He emphasised:
- Impacts on squadron strength due to delays in the induction of aircraft
- Timely deliveries were necessary for combat readiness
- Accountability on the part of industry is as important as technological capability
IAF Chief stressed that the indigenous ability has to match the discipline to execute, especially in view of future generation aircraft for India.
ADA Celebrated 25 Years of LCA Tejas Flights-
The Chief IAF congratulated the ADA during the seminar on completing 25 years since the first flight of Tejas LCA. Completely designed and developed in India, Tejas is one of the most successful defence aerospace programmes of the country.
Principal Milestones to be Achieved by LCA Tejas
- Over 5,600 successful flight trials completed
- Involvement of 100+ design and development centres
- Collaboration between Government labs, Academia, and Industry
- Induction of 38 aircraft, including 32 fighters and 6 trainers, into the IAF
With the programme, India is now transitioning from an importer of aircraft to a designer and manufacturer of fighter aircraft.
Indigenous Technologies That Defined Tejas-
The LCA program played a vital role in the development of several niche and cutting-edge technologies and hence helped Tejas qualify as a fourth-generation fighting aircraft.
Key Technologies Developed:
- Carbon Composite Airframe Structures
- Lightweight Advanced Materials
- Fly by Wire Flight Control System
- Digital Utility Management System
- Modern Glass Cockpit Architecture
These technologies not only fortified Tejas but also paved the way for the next breed of Indian combat aircraft.
DRDO’s Vision: Reducing Import Dependence-
The LCA program played a vital role in the development of several niche and cutting-edge technologies and hence helped Tejas qualify as a fourth-generation fighting aircraft.
Key Technologies Developed:
- Carbon Composite Airframe Structures
- Lightweight Advanced Materials
- Fly by Wire Flight Control System
- Digital Utility Management System
- Modern Glass Cockpit Architecture
These technologies not only fortified Tejas but also paved the way for the next breed of Indian combat aircraft.
Aeronautics 2047: Platform for Future Aerospace Vision-
The ‘Aeronautics 2047’ seminar, held in Bengaluru on 4-5 January 2026, provided a national platform to discuss India’s aerospace roadmap for the next two decades.
Participants included:
- Scientists and engineers from the DRDO and ADA
- Representatives of DPSUs, PSUs, and MSMEs
- Representatives from academia and research institutions
- Aviation professionals and enthusiasts
The seminar facilitated cross-sector synergies essential for shaping the future of aeronautics in India.
Key Focus Areas of Aeronautics 2047-
The seminar has dealt with a wide array of advanced aerospace technologies that are pertinent to new aircraft development.
Major themes discussed included:
- Manufacturing and assembly for next-generation aircraft
- Automated manufacturing and digital twin techniques
- Aerodynamics
- Propulsion and engine technologies
- Flight test and certification challenges
- Flight control systems and avionics
- AI applications in the design of aircraft
- Maintainability challenges in fighters
- Precision manufacture for actuators
These discussions are intended to put India in the lead in design, manufacture, and lifecycle management of the aerospace systems.
Future of LCA Programme and Beyond-
This seminar indeed presented the evolution and future adaptations of the LCA program.
Present and Upcoming Variants:
- LCA Mk1A: Advanced variant as per the current requirements of the IAF
- LCA Mk II: Under development with improved performance
- LCA Navy: Oriented for aircraft carrier operations
As such, experts say that the LCA program has enabled India to build indigenous capacity and capability for fighter aircraft.
Strategic Impact on India’s Defence Ecosystem-
India has reaped very rich benefits from the LCA Tejas programme because it:
- Strengthened aerospace design competencies
- Developed a vigorous defence manufacturing ecosystem
- Entitle MSMEs into high-tech supply chains
- Reduced dependence on external OEMs for the long term
This was considered one of the successful indigenous defence programmes in India.
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Conclusion-
The Aeronautics 2047 seminar stridently reaffirmed India’s commitment to self-reliance in the aerospace sector and to being a technological leader. The emphasis by the IAF Chief on timely deliveries, blended with DRDO’s focus on indigenous innovation, carved a clear road map for the defence aviation future of India. As India approaches the year 2047, lessons learned from LCA Tejas and concepts put forth during the seminar would position India to emerge as a global aerospace power based on indigenous strengths.