India’s indigenous Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) successfully completed its maiden flight at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Bengaluru facility, marking a pivotal milestone in the country’s defense manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The HTT-40 is designed as a fully aerobatic, tandem-seat turboprop trainer to prepare future Indian Air Force pilots, featuring modern avionics, ejection seats, and a digital cockpit. This development reflects India’s advancing aerospace capabilities and HAL’s commitment to enhancing national defense readiness, as the HTT-40 is set to replace older trainer aircraft within the IAF fleet. The aircraft’s successful debut underscores the maturation of India’s defense ecosystem and its stride towards self-reliance in military aviation.