The Indian Air Force (IAF) is finally set to receive a much-needed boost to its fighter strength as the first of the 83 Tejas Mk 1A combat aircraft is scheduled for delivery by October-end. This comes as a relief to the force, which has been grappling with depleting fighter squadrons for several years.
The Tejas Mk 1A project has faced several delays, with the initial delivery target of March 2024 being pushed back due to a combination of factors, including necessary software iterations and delays in the supply of new engines from General Electric.
The first aircraft will be delivered with Category B engines, which are essentially reserve engines that may have been used in the past or those remaining from a previous deal. However, the HAL expects to receive brand new General Electric F404-IN20 engines from November onwards, as per a revised schedule provided by the engine manufacturer.
The Tejas program has been a long and arduous journey for India, spanning nearly four decades. It was initiated in 1983 with the ambitious goal of producing the first aircraft by 1994. However, the prototype only flew in 2001, and the first aircraft with final clearance was handed over to the IAF in 2019.
The Mk 1A variant itself is the result of a compromise reached in 2015, with the IAF opting for a more immediate upgrade to the existing Tejas platform instead of waiting for the development of the Tejas Mk-2, which would have involved significant structural changes.
Despite the delays, the IAF remains committed to the Tejas program, with plans to procure an additional 97 Mk 1A aircraft. In fact, the IAF recently proposed a public-private partnership model to set up more production lines for the Tejas, as it prepares to induct nearly 300 variants of the indigenous fighter over the next decade and a half.
