In a significant development for India's indigenous defence sector, the first Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) new Nashik production line is scheduled for its inaugural flight by mid-July 2025.
Following this crucial test, the initial delivery of the advanced aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) is anticipated by August 2025, marking a key milestone after a 16-month delay.
The Tejas Mk-1A is a more lethal and technologically advanced version of the original Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). As a central element of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) policy, it is designed to be the backbone of the IAF's modern combat fleet.
The aircraft is classified as a 4.5-generation fighter, featuring significant upgrades such as an indigenous 'Uttam' Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a sophisticated electronic warfare suite for enhanced survivability, and the capability to fire beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles.
These enhancements provide pilots with superior situational awareness and combat effectiveness.
To accelerate production, HAL established the state-of-the-art facility in Nashik, Maharashtra, as a second dedicated production line for the Tejas, complementing its primary facility in Bengaluru.
This expansion is critical to fulfilling a landmark contract valued at approximately ₹48,000 crore, which was signed in February 2021 for the supply of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets to the IAF. The new line is integrated with modern automation and precision-tooling to streamline manufacturing.
The program, which is vital for replacing the IAF's aging MiG-21 squadrons, faced a setback of 16 months due to global supply chain disruptions following the COVID-19 pandemic and technical hurdles in integrating the new advanced systems. HAL officials have confirmed that these initial challenges have been overcome.
The Nashik facility is projected to produce up to eight aircraft annually, which, combined with the Bengaluru line's capacity, will significantly boost the delivery rate and help ensure the IAF maintains its operational readiness.
