Hyderabad’s T-Works to Build India’s Own Fighter-Jet Simulators

For years, India has depended on costly imported flight simulators from the US and Europe. Each unit often costs hundreds of crores, with every upgrade or repair tied to foreign suppliers. Now, a quiet but powerful shift is happening in Hyderabad, where T-Works, India’s largest hardware prototyping centre, is working to build these simulators at home.

This move is more than just another defence contract—it’s about strategic independence. Flight simulators are not luxury gadgets; they are essential for training fighter pilots. Every hour spent on a simulator saves fuel, reduces risks, and allows pilots to prepare for scenarios that cannot be replicated in the skies. Until now, India has had to pay a premium for this technology. If T-Works succeeds, the country could cut those costs nearly in half while gaining full control over how the simulators are designed, updated, and customised for Indian needs.

What makes this project exciting is its ambition. These simulators will not be basic replicas but next-generation systems capable of 360-degree motion, AI-driven enemy behaviour, and immersive AR/VR environments. Imagine a young pilot stepping into a cockpit that looks and feels exactly like a Su-30MKI, Rafale, or TEJAS, and being able to rehearse dogfights, electronic warfare, or even futuristic stealth missions—all without leaving the ground. This kind of training will sharpen reflexes, reduce accidents, and prepare the Indian Air Force for complex battle scenarios.

It also sends a strong message to the world. By producing such advanced simulators domestically, India not only saves money but also avoids the constant anxiety of export restrictions or political roadblocks from foreign governments. In times of crisis, training cannot wait for permissions from abroad.

Another overlooked impact is the ecosystem effect. Defence technology is never built in isolation. The T-Works initiative will bring together local software developers, electronics engineers, component manufacturers, and start-ups, creating an innovation network in Hyderabad. This will generate skilled jobs, attract new investments, and possibly even turn the city into a global hub for defence simulation exports, especially for Asian and African countries that cannot afford Western systems.

Of course, the project is still at an early stage. Prototypes will take at least two years before they are combat-ready for training. But even in its infancy, this effort represents a psychological leap forward. For the first time, India is not just buying or assembling imported technology—it is designing its own simulation platforms, tailored to its aircraft and its defence doctrine.

If successful, T-Works will not only deliver machines; it will deliver confidence—the confidence that India can train its pilots on its own terms, save vast sums of money, and even offer cutting-edge training solutions to the world. This is not simply about flight simulators. It is about India taking control of the invisible but crucial foundation of air power: training, preparation, and foresight.