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The engine supply chain for India's indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighter jet initiative is set to see substantial improvements in the coming months.
Speaking during the recent fourth-quarter financial briefing for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Kota announced that the aerospace firm has taken delivery of six F404-IN20 engines from the American manufacturer GE Aerospace.
Furthermore, HAL projects the arrival of an additional 15 to 20 powerplants before the close of the current calendar year.
This development represents a crucial breakthrough for the advanced light combat aircraft project, which had previously grappled with timeline setbacks linked to international delivery bottlenecks.
In February 2021, the Ministry of Defence formalized a ₹46,898 crore agreement for 83 Tejas Mk1A fighters to bolster the Indian Air Force (IAF).
However, worldwide supply chain constraints hampered GE Aerospace's ability to maintain its production schedules for the 84 kilonewton (kN) thrust engines, thereby putting pressure on India's manufacturing targets.
With a steady influx of these essential components on the horizon, HAL anticipates a stabilization of its manufacturing operations, paving the way for a methodical increase in aircraft assembly.
Kota noted that the initial batch of received engines is currently moving through various phases of testing and integration.
Additionally, technical validation is ongoing as HAL engineers finalize the sophisticated upgrades unique to the Mk1A variant, which includes an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile capabilities, and an updated electronic warfare suite.
Securing 15 to 20 more engines by the end of the year will be instrumental in escalating the production tempo at HAL's facilities.
Defence sector analysts project that this revitalized supply line will empower the state-owned manufacturer to dramatically boost its annual aircraft output throughout the upcoming 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 financial cycles, ensuring faster delivery schedules.
The IAF continues to monitor the progress of the Tejas Mk1A program with keen interest, driven by the pressing need to reverse the depletion of its combat squadron numbers.
As legacy Soviet-era aircraft, particularly the aging MiG-21 fleets, are systematically phased out of active duty, the modernized indigenous Tejas is positioned to become a foundational element of India's aerial defence strategy for decades to come.
