NE AVIATION BUREAU
BENGALURU, JAN 4:
India’s aerospace ambitions soared to new heights on Sunday as the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) kicked off its two-day national seminar ‘Aeronautics 2047’ at the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bengaluru, setting the tone for the country’s flight path towards Viksit Bharat @2047.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh PVSM AVSM inaugurated a national seminar on “Aeronautics – 2047” being organised by ADA during 4-5 January 2026 at Bengaluru in presence of Dr Samir V Kamat Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr Kota Harinaryana former Director… pic.twitter.com/U3R2emjLKN
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) January 4, 2026
The seminar was inaugurated by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, who lauded ADA on the completion of 25 years of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas flight. He underlined the critical need to strictly adhere to delivery timelines, stressing that timely induction of indigenous platforms is vital to keep the Indian Air Force (IAF) operationally ready in an era of rapidly evolving security challenges.
- Air Chief stresses timely Tejas deliveries to keep IAF battle-ready
- DRDO calls for deep-tech self-reliance to cut import dependence
- Next-gen fighters, AI, digital twins and propulsion tech in focus
- Tejas journey showcased as India’s biggest indigenous airpower success
Reinforcing the government’s push for self-reliance, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr Samir V Kamat, highlighted the strategic importance of indigenous, cutting-edge technologies to reduce import dependence and strengthen India’s defence ecosystem. He said programmes like Tejas exemplify how home-grown innovation can translate into global capability.
The seminar has drawn domain experts, industry leaders, academia, PSUs, DPSUs, MSMEs and aviation enthusiasts from across the country, creating a powerful platform to deliberate on the future of aeronautics and combat aviation. Key discussions focus on next-generation aircraft manufacturing and assembly, digital manufacturing, advanced aerodynamics, propulsion systems, AI-driven aircraft design, flight testing, digital twin technology, certification challenges, avionics, flight control systems and fighter aircraft maintainability.
A major highlight of Aeronautics 2047 is the detailed showcase of the LCA Tejas journey—from sketch to squadron. Designed and developed by ADA, Tejas has completed over 5,600 successful flight trials, with contributions from more than 100 design and development centres, including government labs, academic institutions and Indian industry. The programme pioneered several niche technologies such as carbon composites, lightweight materials, fly-by-wire flight control systems, digital utility management systems and glass cockpit avionics, establishing Tejas as a fourth-generation fighter aircraft.
The LCA Mk1A, an advanced variant, is poised to emerge as a potent frontline fighter for the IAF, while LCA Mk II and LCA Navy variants are currently under development. Technical sessions during the seminar feature renowned experts closely associated with the Tejas programme, offering rare insights into India’s indigenous fighter aircraft ecosystem.
With 38 Tejas aircraft—including 32 fighters and six trainers—already inducted into two IAF squadrons, the LCA programme is widely regarded as one of India’s most successful indigenous defence initiatives, delivering both capability and capacity to build fighter aircraft domestically.
Adding to the buzz, a large number of PSUs, DPSUs, private industries and MSMEs are showcasing indigenously designed airborne systems and products, underlining the growing depth of India’s aerospace supply chain.
