IAF Seeks Private Sector Production Lines for Tejas Mk2 as High Orders of Tejas Mk1A May Overwhelm HAL Facilities

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to accelerate the production of its indigenous Tejas Mk2 fighter jet by enlisting the help of private sector manufacturers.

This move comes as the IAF anticipates a potential production bottleneck stemming from high demand for the Tejas Mk1A, which may strain the capacity of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

HAL, the state-owned aerospace and defence company, had initially planned to produce the Tejas Mk1A using three production lines, with a capacity of 24 jets per year.

However, recent orders for an additional 97 Mk1A aircraft have extended the production timeline to 2031-32. This delay pushes back HAL's ability to fully transition its facilities to manufacturing the more advanced Tejas Mk2, which was originally slated to begin in 2029.

While HAL aims to commence limited Mk2 production in 2029, full-scale production wouldn't be possible until mid-2035 due to existing infrastructure limitations. This timeline doesn't align with the IAF's desire for a faster rollout of the Mk2.

To bridge this gap, the IAF is proposing a solution where a private company would establish a dedicated production line for the Tejas Mk2, with a capacity of 5 jets annually. This would ensure a steady supply of the advanced fighter jets while HAL scales up its own production capabilities.

The potential order of 120 Mk2 jets, with further plans for 80-90 more, presents a lucrative opportunity for private sector involvement. The IAF estimates that up to 40 jets could be outsourced, offering a significant boost to the chosen company's aerospace manufacturing portfolio.

Discussions are currently underway with three private companies that have previously expressed interest in the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, another indigenous fighter jet project. These companies are being evaluated for their potential to manage a smaller Tejas Mk2 production line alongside their future AMCA work.

This initiative reflects the IAF's commitment to modernizing its fleet with domestically produced aircraft while leveraging the capabilities of the private sector to enhance production capacity and meet its operational requirements.

 

[vinod nair]

Already funding kaveri 2.0.

Not enough, many engine needs to developed simultanously not just replacement for f414, 5 gen and 6 gen possible even 7 gen AC engine needs to b developed, may b even tedbf with rd33 engine needs to b explored money is not problem may b the attitude, Beg, Borrow Or Steal get all kind of engine manufacturing is started in india, we should also explore hybrid engine solution for AC. Civil ac should also be made in india not just assembled, if not western then Russian. A country that can't protect its official how will it defend itself. America needs to b answered Pannu is a terrorist. MQB9 is required at the cost of self respect? What' our industries are doing just lotting public resouce? are we capable to b Independent? Can't we have Russian equivalent system. Ensure MAD vs China totally, Take Tibet buffer zone into consideration. Any effective strike needs to b sea based. Recall all our asset from western country and give emploement here. Show that they can't muddle with world largest democracy

 

[GMR]

they have to take responsibility by investing Funds too for creating production line if Not , second Govt may allow/Give Funds too for setting up Infrastructure of pvt production facility only thing is pvt players have to do copy paste work on agreed margin , Let say 6% to 8%

Ensure them of potential order and return on investment and pvt. sector will be more than happy to join & invest funds...

 

[Deven Korde]

No company participate in mfg of aircraft , because govt not going to give there payments on time , why you expect private companies to burn there hands in such deals

 

[adarsh kumar]

The main issue is the engines, we are dependent upon foreign manufacturers, and if recent delays for engines for mk1a, says something, it is no matter how many production lines u open, if u don't have the engines, u will still be stuck

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Already funding kaveri 2.0.

Funding only Kaveri2.0 is not enough. We thought of developing a 40- 50 KN dry thrust engine from scratch. Better to go for step wise approach. Have two consortiums, let them develop 15, 25, 35 KN engines. Then let them proceed to 50+, 75, 100 KN engines etc. Have separate teams for development and certification. Every ~3 years development team can complete development and move towards developing higher thrust engine while certification and testing teams should work towards incremental improvements testing and certification. This experience will create much needed expertise and ecosystem for building next gen materials and realizing jet engines.

Use smaller engines for drones, trainer aircraft's. Incentivize passenger and cargo jets who use these engines. Later on derive naval variants of these engines.

We funded 250-350 million USD for last ~30 years and thought we will directly develop a higher thrust engine from scratch. This is poor planning. A new engine takes around 1 billion dollars to develop. Good that we have a 45-50 KN dry thrust engine at one third cost of the benchmark. Congratulations to those who worked on the engine. We lack testing infra, have to wait and go to Russia for that. This should have been a high priority.

 

[Ysmir Rewari]

A blank check funding and foreign consultancy has been going on for some 4 decades now with no results. Time to change the approach and kick DRDO out else nothing will work. Forget a decade, we will not get anything in this entire century.

Blank check funding for Kaveri??? When did that happen, they don't even have a high altitute test aircraft.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

The govt needs to dilute public holding from all PSUS and HAL, DRDO,GTRE, ADA to less than 49% so that the socialist,union, reservation system is discarded and selection, merit, result, accountable and responsible system erected where time, money and results are produced with the management responsible for all decisions including Hiriing of foreign talent and international collaborations.

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

Any company who wants to do trade in defense in India and wants to be part of the IAF tenders for MRFA or MTA should be open to participate in the manufacturing of Tejas mk1, mk1a, mk2, AMCA, TEDBF and for engines such as Kaveri, F404, F414, RD-33, AL-31 etc.

Not sure what TATA, Mahindra, Adani, Godrej, L&T, Reliance are hesitating or are staying away or even kept outside these projects.

They have to bring their industrial scale manufacturing expertise and skills gained by working on other "Make in India" projects, into the engine and aircraft manufacturing for defense applications too.

After 25 years it's now more than obvious that it cannot be left to defense PSUs like HAL, BHEL, BEL and r&d labs of DRDO, ADE, ADA who can take this ahead into the next 25 years.

HAL can do the prototypes, and research fot strategic if they want but serial production and MRO should be left to the industrial houses.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

IAF has no authority to give orders for Tejas to private companies. GOI is the one with authority. Amazed by this article. Imagination!

It's the IAF which places the order for jets and makes payment. They always have a say in production.

 

[Akshat]

Blank check funding for Kaveri??? When did that happen, they don't even have a high altitute test aircraft.

Test aircraft was never asked for in the original proposal. It wasn’t asked for till 2006, in fact. And they didn’t have the engine components for the engine to put on that aircraft till 2011 or 2012.

As for blank check, what does a blank check mean? That you get as much funds as you ask for. GTRE always got that. They got multiple extensions too, which shows that there were no cuts imposed on them. You won’t increase the funding at a later date if you cut the original number, would you?

In fact, there was money left in the bank and unrealized sanctioned money left as well as GTRE had no idea what to do with that money.

So yeah, they always had a blank check and money was never an issue. As for the test aircraft, they may not have the aircraft but they always had the freedom to go and get the tests done abroad as and when needed.

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

Private players may have some reservations about the possibility of future orders. So, for private players to pitch in their time and money, guarantee and assurance should come from the MOD itself.

For that, MOD and the Ministry should be so again pushing for indigenous. EVERYTHING INDIGENOUS. OUR HEADS SHOULD NEVER EVER TURN TOWARDS THE WEST TO SEE WHO WILL SELL THEIR TECHNOLOGY. NO WAY. THE SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS SHOULD BE PUT TO THEIR BEST ABILITY AND USE

BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST BRAINS FROM THE IITs AND IISc SHOULD BE ROPED IN TO HELP FILL IN THE GAPS IN THE TECHNOLOGY, SO THAT INDIAN MILITARY COMPLEX WILL STAND FIRM ON ITS OWN LEGS WITH STRONG SPINE INSTEAD OF PIGGYBACKING ON THE WEST LIKE A POLIO PATIENT.

HAL SHOULD OUTSOURCE MAJORITY OF THE CRUCIAL WORKS TO THE PRIVATE PLAYERS, KEEPING THE HIGH PROFILE WORKS LIKE DESIGN, RESEARCH, INNOVATION ETC.

 

[Rick Golder]

The lack of indian private companies on aircraft manufacturing is really shocking. Given our private players are already getting well involved in others aka armed vehicles and warships.

 

[desigandu]

Pie in the sky - desirable to have scalability but is it financially viable…GOI & MOD must bankroll Tatas for this private sector assembly line for say 12 jets/year, but even if that happens all the engines and critical components must also be scaled…Doable, desirable but is it viable - good, advance planning and spending money could solve the problem…
On paper HAL can deliver 30 jets, but we are getting 6-8, so actual delivery is what matters…Even people like Dassault are only delivering 12-13 jets per year (annual investor report) despite claims of 24-36 per year…Screw what is your capacity, as the only thing that matters how many jets have you actually delivered recently…
Bharat must develop alternatives to HAL, fighter engines, critical components to increase output of fighter to 36-48 per year, say before 2035 in phases if we want to get back our squadron strength…It is a must - but history of our ecosystem is poor and pathetic…Hopefully we have learnt and can make the changes - time will tell…

 

[desigandu]

Why not outsource 50-60% of the production instead, and link it with AMCA as well instead? That'll be a larger incentive to private players, since that gets them a guaranteed production order of atleast 100 jets (60 Tejas Mk 2s + 40 AMCA Mk 1s at a minimum), plus an option of anything up till 120-ish more jets (40 Tejas Mk 2s + 80 AMCA Mk 2s), and potentially even more, even if you assume only half the line is outsourced.

See, getting a private player to set up a line only for 40-50 aircraft will be very difficult given the small order.

Only guaranteed orders for the long term, while giving large financial incentives is the way forward…I agree if you guarantee TATAS 24 jets per year starting Tejas Mk2, AMCA, and potentially TEDBF, say starting 2030 onwards, bankrolling them like in chips, while ensuring availability of engines, critical components and decent rate of return - they will do it…
TATAS are investing big time for chips with the declared incentives…

 

[Muthu.Kumar]

Even 24 jets a year is way too low. HAL has orders for close to 200 jets. To complete this alone takes 8 years (which is WAY TOO LONG) by which time Gen 6 jets would be operational by the West and China.

And by the time AMCA is complete (touch wood) and enters service as per its timeline (again, touch wood), HAL will place order for that too.

Also has high ambition for exports. So, considering this fact, our capacity should be AT LEAST 40 a year.

So, HAL should set up two plants in Tamil Nadu (in two different locations. Hosur locality offers great opportunity as it's one of TN's manufacturing hubs) with a combined capacity of 16 a year.

 

[VedantaKiran]

The IAF has now publicly acknowledged that HAL is incapable of planning aircraft delivery on time. The IAF is spot on and has hit the nail on the head since HAL is an indisciplined organization. The senior management at HAal is incapable of time management, planning and risk planning & mitigation and expect the government to bail them out each time.

Bottomline the IAF is saying HAL makes false promises and is incapable of adhering to the schedule.

Our enemy countries China, Pakistan have sophisticated aircraft. In case of a two front war, the IAF may be stretched in the current scenario.

All that HAL does to keep itself in the news is to get a high profile person to fly the demo aircraft once every 2-3 months and publish something in newspapers...looks like only the marketing department in HAL is working. Rest are useless.