The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has opened a new production line at Nashik to manufacture Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, with the capability of producing up to 24 aircraft a year. Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft that operates in high-threat air environments. Many countries, including Egypt, Argentina, the US, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, have shown interest in the aircraft, and in February 2021 the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the acquisition of 83 Tejas jets for the Indian Air Force.
