Updates
** Shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd HIAE.NS closed 1% higher at 4,776 rupees
** Co signs 623.70 billion rupees ($7.03 billion) deal for Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft with Indian Air Force
** CLSA reiterates "outperform" on stock with TP of 5,436 rupees, an upside of 15.1% to Wednesday's close
** Says delivery of 2 aircraft crucial for $7.8 billion repeat order, which could add 35% to its $22 billion backlog; says deal pipeline remains healthy
** HIAE at "deserved premium" to global aerospace peers on Make-in-India pipeline, market access - CLSA
** CLSA says co reached important milestone with 1st flight of 13th Light Combat Aircraft this week vs 12 it aimed for in fiscal year
** HIAE up 14.5% YTD
(Reporting by Meenakshi Maidas and Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru)
((meenakshi.maidas@thomsonreuters.com;))