HAL to Establish Fourth Tejas LCA Assembly Line at Nashik to Expedite Production as F-404 Engine Deliveries Expected from March 2025

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is gearing up to significantly increase production of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) by establishing a fourth assembly line at its Nashik plant. This move aims to accelerate production and compensate for lost time once General Electric (GE) begins delivering F-404 engines in March 2025.

The inability of the GE to deliver these engines on schedule has hampered HAL's production of the Tejas Mk-1, impacting the Indian Air Force's (IAF) efforts to maintain its fighter squadron strength. Sources indicate that GE currently has a backlog of 26 engines but has committed to delivering the first engine by March 2025 and subsequently ramping up production.

HAL currently operates two LCA assembly lines in Bengaluru, each with a capacity of producing eight aircraft annually. A third assembly line in Nashik, also with an annual capacity of eight aircraft, is expected to roll out its first Tejas LCA by March 2025.

The planned fourth assembly line in Nashik will further boost production capacity, but its establishment hinges on the consistent supply of engines from GE. HAL estimates it will need 1.5 years to set up this new facility.

This push for increased production comes at a critical time for the IAF, which is facing a decline in fighter squadron strength. Against a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, the IAF currently operates 31, a number that is set to decrease further with the phasing out of the remaining MiG-21 squadrons.

The Defence Ministry signed a deal with HAL in 2021 for 83 LCA Tejas Mk-1 aircraft (73 fighters and 10 trainers) at a cost of Rs 45,696 crore. GE was contracted to supply 99 engines for these aircraft. While GE has cited "supply-side constraints" for the delays, Indian officials have engaged in high-level discussions with their US counterparts to resolve the issue.

Despite these challenges, HAL has managed to produce the first Tejas Mk-1A using reserve engines, with the second aircraft currently on the assembly line. The first Mk-1A is undergoing various trials and is expected to be showcased at Aero India 2025.

With the anticipated resumption of engine deliveries and the planned expansion of production capacity, HAL is poised to significantly ramp up Tejas LCA production. This will be crucial in bolstering the IAF's fighter fleet and ensuring India's air superiority in the region.

 

[parimal vaikuthray Pandya]

Two reports of incompetence of DRDO and IAF are published by Ronak Chaudhary and Swaraj ya News today to internet nowadays

 

[MSN]

Signals are HAL and GoI heading for trouble; the US will take this opportunity by holding a supply of engines to suffocate IAF and try to take control of Indian foreign policies. Here, India has the only option to complete its Kaveri jet engine project within the next 3-5 years or buy @100-150 fighter jets from France or Russia to close the chapter on indigenous fighter development.
Taking into account recent history, most probably under pressure, GoI will again kill the indigenous defence development project.

 

[MKR]

If we did not the numbers since 2016, which all officials asked for Tejas to be exported and went around showcasing the aircraft abroad last year ? Would be called treason in some nations.

 

[Andy13]

Trials for 1st MK1 going on for last 1 year. As if they would have done 16 but for the engines...

 

[sanket]

I have said 100 times that GE should ramp up production of its engine from 16 to over 30. That's good news. HAL's annual production rate for Tejas MK1A will pass beyond 30. Second, I already said in December that the Nashik plant will start contributing to the assembly of Tejas MK1A. My every word is becoming true. The third additional order of 97 will be delivered within 3 years once the production rate reaches beyond 30. Now the comedian will start biting samosas with a sip of tea as usual. GE is losing its reputation, no planning whatsoever, no seriousness in delivering orders. They have failed in fulfilling an international order, and the US begs/cries for business and defence orders from Bharat. Shame on GE, who is taking Indo-US defence ties to the next level.

 

[swatkats_razor]

HAL to start fourth assembly line for Tejas Mk1A to meet IAF's growing demand, but deliver none.

 

[Instant Karma]

HAL should start another 2 production lines, one each for AMCA and TEDBF. HAL koraput facility has 10000 acres of land. HAL should utilize that surplus land for any new expansion including setting up of transport and passengers planes manufacturing facilities in the line of Airbus A 320 and Boeing C 17.

if HAL will implement this, then this will effectively block the expansion plans of Adani defence and TASL into aerospace sector and will make HAL as the undisputed leader in Indian aerospace sector for the comming century.

 

[Akshay Bisht]

The projected manufacturing capacity (30) will remain a laughing pile of stock.GE F404 engines will always be aa bottlenecking part from GE. However once the deal for F414 engine is concluded and if HAL could deliver these engines at 30 per year, we can transform the tejas mk1a lines into mk2 lines. That would make an impact on depleating numbers in squadran