India is set to take a significant step in its long-term defence indigenisation journey as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) prepares to roll out the first Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet from its Nashik facility by the end of July 2025. The aircraft is the most advanced version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme so far, developed for the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a multirole frontline fighter tailored for a dual-front threat scenario involving both China and Pakistan.