Hyderabad Firm Makes Fuselage for Tejas Mk1A
VEM Technologies hands over centre fuselage to HAL, marking a milestone in defence manufacturing
Hyderabad: VEM Technologies, a city-based private defence company, has manufactured and delivered a complete centre fuselage for the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), making it the first such handover by a non-government player.
The structure, delivered on Friday in the presence of defence production secretary Sanjeev Kumar and HAL chairman Dr D.K. Sunil, weighs 478 kg and is made up of nearly 1,560 parts. It connects the cockpit, wings and tail, and holds essential systems including fuel tanks and the landing gear.
“This wasn’t a plug-and-play job. It required months of hands-on effort and compliance with tight defence standards,” said K. Sridhar, chief of engineering at VEM.
The project was developed through a technology transfer from HAL via the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and executed by a 122-member team of engineers and technicians at VEM. Eight such fuselage units are expected to be delivered this year, and 12 in the next.
“The delivery shows the maturing capabilities of private suppliers in complex defence production,” said Sanjeev Kumar. “We’re seeing 10 per cent growth in both defence production and exports. This wouldn’t be possible without companies like VEM working with HAL.”
HAL officials said the handover supports the establishment of a fourth Tejas production line, in addition to two in Bengaluru and one in Nashik. “Major assemblies like centre fuselages, pylons, wings and air intakes are already being outsourced. Firms like VEM, L&T, TASL and Alpha Tocol are delivering what was earlier seen as out of reach for the private sector,” said Dr Sunil.
VEM also aims to expand its role from component supplier to full-system manufacturer. “We are preparing for commercial production of integrated defence systems by 2026, including missiles, rockets and launchers,” said Pradeep Vishwakarma, director, operations.
The Indian Air Force has placed orders for 83 Tejas Mk1A jets, with HAL expected to begin deliveries later this year. According to HAL, its LCA division has already received other private-built modules like fin, rudder, and rear fuselage assemblies. Officials added that tenders for additional subsystems will be floated soon.
HAL has so far placed orders worth `13,763 crore with Indian vendors, including over 2,400 MSMEs, in the last three years, part of a wider push for indigenisation under the government’s Make in India programme.
