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.

 

[R. Singh]

HAL plants should be expanded to have two production lines to assemble 24 fighters per plant , So should be selected pvt firm to have capacity to assemble 24 fighter jets ! TATA should be selected for this job ! Then only we can meet the targets for IAF and Export !

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Fund the indigenous engine development program as well. It may not come today but at least after 8-10 years you will be less dependent on foreign supply. All else will fail if engine supply is stopped.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

This should be the approach. There are enough private companies that can do this.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Fund the indigenous engine development program as well. It may not come today but at least after 8-10 years you will be less dependent on foreign supply. All else will fail if engine supply is stopped.

Already funding kaveri 2.0.

 

[sanket]

This should be the approach. There are enough private companies that can do this.

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%

 

[Sridhar]

Pvt players especially in India will play a critical role for India to become successful not only in achieving manufacturing and delivery as.per timeliness but also produce weapons of International Standards.
INDIA should repeat the success story of Indian IT services.

 

[swatkats_razor]

So long as HAL is present as a a public sector entity, no private player will evince intrest in assembling anything for the IAF where HAL is seen as a piecemeal stakeholder.

 

[sanket]

Fund the indigenous engine development program as well. It may not come today but at least after 8-10 years you will be less dependent on foreign supply. All else will fail if engine supply is stopped.

work is on for developing 110 kN Engine for AMCA, TEDBF, Rafale & Tejas MK2

 

[Anant]

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.

 

[bonito]

All these are fine.only if Tejas Mk2 is development complete. On what basis IAF believes mk2 development would be completed and certified before 2028 ? Didn't IAF learn a thing ? There only option is to fall mercy at MRFA and many more foreign acquisitions.

 

[bonito]

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.

First to produce in 2029, plant should be setup in 2028 for which plan should have been drawn now, vendor should be selected this year and appropriate MoU should have been signed (so that vendor starts to build the plant). Before all these to happen, Mk2 development should be completed next year. Is this even possible ? What guarantee that mk2 will be completed in 2027 atleast?

 

[Sudha]

So long as HAL is present as a a public sector entity, no private player will evince intrest in assembling anything for the IAF where HAL is seen as a piecemeal stakeholder.

Wrong. Private sector is all about profit & revenue. This is a golden opportunity for them to learn the ropes.

 

[Sudha]

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%

What? Inefficient HAL was funded by the government for that. Where is the levelling play field? What was inefficient HAL doing other than copy & paste for past 70 years?

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

This should be the approach. There are enough private companies that can do this.

Unless you bring competition to any company ,specially psus they wont learn. Private sector need to be involved, should be given a large chunk of oder.

 

[sanket]

What? Inefficient HAL was funded by the government for that. Where is the levelling play field? What was inefficient HAL doing other than copy & paste for past 70 years?

Even dassault dont have more 13 per year production rate HAL has More than 15 , Nashik plant will go on stream in November 2024 ,From 2025 HAL will have over 20 per year production question is GE has to supply Engines , Last important Thing Production is dependent on orders & Not orders are dependent on production , GE too dont have over 16 production rate of engines

 

[Rinku Pandey]

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

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

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.

GOVT should build a bigger production line of over 36 aircraft capable for being expanded to over 54 -60 aircraft and costs shared 49%private and 51% public. The line has to be 5th generation with robotic assembly , and latest 7th gen CNC machines , 3D manufacture and latest laser and machining machines brought from Germany , America , Japan , Sweden and france .

 

[De_SECULARISED]

Convert those additional orders of mk1a to mk2 and do arrangements of production line accordingly with PUC or Pvt.
Additional mk1s Nos could be re_jigged after 2/3rd order completion observing thier operational quadron needs.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Tata, godrej or adani have the required capital and risk appetite to go for it. Only thing they need is a sureity of orders.

 

[Ysmir Rewari]

work is on for developing 110 kN Engine for AMCA, TEDBF, Rafale & Tejas MK2

Discussions and negotiations are on, not development work

 

[Anant]

First to produce in 2029, plant should be setup in 2028 for which plan should have been drawn now, vendor should be selected this year and appropriate MoU should have been signed (so that vendor starts to build the plant). Before all these to happen, Mk2 development should be completed next year. Is this even possible ? What guarantee that mk2 will be completed in 2027 atleast?

Um, the 2029 production timeline is bonkers. Production would nominally begin around 2032-33 or so. At the present, we'll have a first flight in 2026, followed by ~6 years of trials.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

A meaningful production Line by a strategic private company will only be set up if 12-16 aircraft are produced every year and this line besides LCA Mk -2 is given orders to produce the trainers of IAF of all types HPT , IJTand HF-72

 

[Akshat]

Fund the indigenous engine development program as well. It may not come today but at least after 8-10 years you will be less dependent on foreign supply. All else will fail if engine supply is stopped.

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.