BENGALURU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya completed a sortie on the HTT-40, India’s wholly indigenous Basic Trainer Aircraft, at the Aero Show on Thursday.
Following his flight, he contemplated the developmental progression of the HTT-40, remarking that India has transitioned from controversies under UPA to self-sufficiency under Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the creation of its own entirely indigenous Basic Trainer Aircraft.

The HTT-40, crafted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited specifically for the Indian Air Force, features a four-bladed turbo-prop engine with complete aerobatic capabilities.
The aircraft incorporates advanced technology, including a modern glass cockpit and essential safety elements such as a zero-zero ejection seat. This development represents a crucial advancement towards self-sufficiency in defence and aviation sectors, supporting the Prime Minister’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative by reducing reliance on foreign-made Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTAs) for training pilots.
Speaking after his sortie, MP Tejasvi Surya said, “The HTT-40 represents India’s journey from scandal to self-reliance, from foreign dependency to Atmanirbharta.”
He drew attention to India’s acquisition of Swiss Pilatus trainer aircraft in 2012 during the UPA administration through a Rs 3,000 crore agreement. The procurement faced scrutiny when irregularities emerged, prompting a CBI investigation in 2019 that uncovered middlemen’s participation in the transaction. The subsequent blacklisting of Pilatus created an urgent requirement for domestically produced training aircraft.
Throughout this testing time, HAL pursued development of a homegrown solution. The domestic initiative, however, encountered numerous obstacles.
The breakthrough came in 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and defence minister Manohar Parrikar’s backing provided HAL with essential financial support and policy framework to restart the trainer aircraft initiative. HAL’s successful creation of the HTT-40 within 40 months demonstrated India’s capability to shift from reliance on imports to achieving self-sufficiency in aviation manufacturing.

“Flying the HTT-40 was an incredible experience. This aircraft is a testament to India’s engineering excellence and a shining example of how, with the right policy and support, our scientists and engineers can achieve anything,” he added.
“This achievement is dedicated to the late Shri Manohar Parrikar, whose vision for self-reliance in defence was instrumental in reviving the Indigenous trainer program,” he further said.
“The HTT-40 was first inaugurated by him under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi ji, and today, it stands as a symbol of India’s transformation in defence manufacturing,” said Surya.
The success of HTT-40 was made possible by the relentless efforts of HAL’s chief designers, Suma Prakash and Ramanand, along with a dedicated team of engineers, scientists, and workers.
“On behalf of the citizens of India, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to HAL and its workforce for this historic achievement. This is a win for our nation, and it showcases our ability to develop cutting-edge defence technology,” Surya said.
Given HAL’s success in manufacturing cost-effective and efficient combat aircraft, numerous countries, especially from developing regions, have expressed keen interest in purchasing fighter jets produced in India.
“India is not just securing its own defence needs but is also emerging as a global leader in aerospace technology. Many countries in the Global South will soon procure HAL-made combat aircraft, further strengthening India’s position as a defence exporter,” he added.