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State-owned aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has committed to delivering the first six Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the end of the current fiscal year in March 2026.
The announcement comes weeks after the IAF Chief publicly voiced serious concerns over repeated delays in the indigenous aircraft's delivery schedule.
HAL's Chairman and Managing Director, D.K. Sunil, stated that the delays are a direct result of the failure of American conglomerate General Electric (GE) Aerospace to supply the F404 jet engines on schedule.
He clarified that HAL has already manufactured and prepared six Tejas airframes, which are currently awaiting engine integration.
"Unfortunately, in the case of LCA Mark 1A, we have built the aircraft. As of today, we have six aircraft lined up," Mr. Sunil said in an interview. "But the engine deliveries have not happened from GE Aerospace. They were to deliver the engines in 2023. Till date, we have got only one engine."
The supply chain disruption from GE Aerospace has been attributed to production backlogs that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were worsened by subsequent supply chain and workforce challenges.
However, Mr. Sunil has assured that the technical issues have been resolved and that HAL is now expecting to receive 12 engines from GE by March 2026, which will enable the promised delivery of the six completed aircraft.
The timely induction of the Tejas Mk1A is a critical component of the IAF's modernization plans. The force is facing a significant capability gap, with its fighter squadron strength having fallen to approximately 31 against a sanctioned requirement of 42.
The Tejas is slated to replace the IAF's aging fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighters, which are being progressively phased out of service.
The Tejas is a locally developed, single-engine, multi-role light combat aircraft. The Mk1A version is a significantly upgraded variant designed to be a world-class fighter.
It is equipped with an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a modern electronic warfare suite, an array of missiles, and superior avionics, making it a potent platform for air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and ground strike missions.
In February 2021, the Ministry of Defence signed a landmark ₹48,000 crore contract with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk1A jets.
The government is also advancing a proposal to acquire an additional 97 of these aircraft for an estimated ₹67,000 crore, underscoring the platform's importance.
Contingent on a steady supply of engines, HAL aims to ramp up its production capacity to 16 jets in the next fiscal year.
Several foreign nations have reportedly shown interest in acquiring the Tejas, and HAL is engaged in discussions for potential export orders.
In addition to the Tejas program, HAL is also set to deliver 156 'Prachand' Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) to the Indian military, following a contract worth ₹62,700 crore finalized in March.
The Prachand is India’s first indigenously designed combat helicopter, uniquely capable of operating at high altitudes above 4,500 meters. Deliveries for the Prachand are scheduled to begin in 2028.
