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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has officially declared that the physical construction of India's highly anticipated Tejas Mk2 fighter is actively advancing.
Disclosed during the aerospace firm’s latest quarterly financial briefing for Q4 FY26, officials confirmed that the primary structural components are currently being pieced together.
This steady progress represents a substantial step forward for the indigenous combat jet initiative, paving the way for the first prototype to make its grand debut by March 2027.
The physical integration of the aircraft is moving exactly according to the predetermined manufacturing blueprint.
Teams at HAL are currently focused on mating crucial airframe modules, fuselage sections, and other vital components to shape the prototype.
The company expressed confidence in maintaining its manufacturing pace, assuring that the formal unveiling remains securely on track for the final quarter of the next financial year.
Designed as a heavily upgraded, medium-weight successor to the Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A, the Mk2 is practically a new aircraft.
It boasts a stretched airframe featuring close-coupled canards to provide superior aerodynamic agility and reduced drag.
It will be powered by the formidable 98kN thrust GE F414-INS6 turbofan engine, which is slated for joint production in India under a significant technology transfer pact.
Additionally, the new jet will feature a drastically increased payload capacity of up to 6.5 tonnes, a higher internal fuel capacity for extended operational range, and state-of-the-art indigenous avionics, including the advanced Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
For the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Tejas Mk2 is poised to become the versatile backbone of its future combat squadrons.
As older, legacy platforms such as the Dassault Mirage 2000, SEPECAT Jaguar, and Mikoyan MiG-29 eventually reach the end of their service lives, the Mk2 will step in to seamlessly fill the operational void.
Furthermore, the defence establishment views the jet as a vital technological and capability bridge between the current light combat aircraft and India's upcoming fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with an anticipated initial requirement of over 100 jets.
Once the fighter is officially unveiled, the prototype will face a rigorous phase of ground evaluations before taking to the skies.
These checks will include exhaustive systems validation, structural integrity tests, and high-speed taxi trials.
Only after clearing these critical safety and performance hurdles will the Tejas Mk2 embark on its maiden flight, initiating a comprehensive testing campaign to certify its flight envelope, weapons firing capabilities, and overall mission readiness.
