India's Plan to Build 288 Tejas, 126 AMCA, and 100 TEDBF in Next Two Decades Facing Engine Challenges

India's ambitious plan to bolster its air power by producing nearly 500 advanced fighter jets over the next two decades is facing a critical hurdle: securing a reliable supply of engines. This challenge threatens to impede the nation's efforts to modernize its air force and maintain a strategic edge in the region.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates with 31 fighter squadrons, falling short of the 42 squadrons deemed necessary to counter potential threats from neighboring Pakistan and China. To address this gap and replace aging aircraft, India aims to manufacture 180 Tejas Mark-1A, 108 Tejas Mark-2, 126 Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and 100 Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighters (TEDBF) for the Indian Navy.

However, delays in engine deliveries have already impacted the production of the Tejas Mark-1A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), tasked with manufacturing the jets, has yet to deliver a single aircraft to the IAF due to a shortage of engines from US-based General Electric (GE). This delay stems from a 2021 contract with GE for 'F414' engines, valued at $716 million, which has experienced significant setbacks.

While negotiations are ongoing with both GE and French company Safran for future engine supplies, concerns remain about India's reliance on foreign manufacturers. This dependence has prompted a renewed focus on domestic engine development, with ongoing programs like the Kaveri engine for the Tejas and the Kaveri 2.0 for the AMCA.

The success of these indigenous engine programs is crucial for India's self-reliance in defense technology and its ability to meet its ambitious fighter jet production targets. As the IAF phases out aging MiG-21, Jaguar, MiG-29, and Mirage 2000 jets in the coming years, the pressure to deliver these new aircraft will intensify.

The coming two decades will be a defining period for the Indian Air Force. Addressing the engine shortage and ensuring a steady supply of reliable power plants for its new fighter jets will be vital for India to maintain air superiority and safeguard its national security.

 

[sanket]

Engine availibility is very important part for Building 500 Fighter Jets Indigenously, for that No penalty on GE at the moment get the job done , Tejas Mk1A will require Engine after 8 to 10 years by the Time Kaveri Engine after Fine Tuning will b ready for MLU , with Foreign collaboration 110 kN Engine development willl bear fruits by 10 years that will power AMCA, TEDBF & Tejas MK2 till then has to rely on GE Engine supply . I always say Indigenous kaveri Engine with 85 kN to 90 kN should continue by Investing Funds , Test beds developing Light weigh material etc

 

[Anant]

There 500 jets is more of a fleet renewal than a fleet expansion. The proposed numbers translate to 10 Tejas Mk 1A squadrons, 6 Tejas Mk 2 squadrons, and 7 AMCA squadrons. Those numbers assume there are no attrition replacements, and no trainers kept out of the squadron. All in all, that is 23 squadrons. The TEDBF is for the Navy, so bot counting them.

The present IAF composition is 2 Tejas Mk 1 squadrons, 3 MiG-29 squadrons, 3 Mirage 2000 squadrons, 6 Jaguar squadrons, 2 Rafale squadrons, 2 MiG-21 squadrons, and 13 Su-30MKI squadrons.

With the aforementioned 23 squadrons, that gives us 23 squadrons (as above) plus 2 Rafale squadrons plus 2 Tejas Mk 1 squadrons plus 8-9 Su-30MKI squadrons, for a total of 35-36 squadrons. Add in the 6 squadrons under MRFA, and that number can finally approach 41-42 squadrons by the late 2040s.

Essentially, these 23 squadrons will be replacing 18-19 squadrons in the first place, hence this isn't exactly an expansion.

P.S. The 42 squadron target itself is potentially outdated. We need to get more drones, and potentially aim for something like 50-51 fighter squadrons now.

 

[मित्र]

There 500 jets is more of a fleet renewal than a fleet expansion. The proposed numbers translate to 10 Tejas Mk 1A squadrons, 6 Tejas Mk 2 squadrons, and 7 AMCA squadrons. Those numbers assume there are no attrition replacements, and no trainers kept out of the squadron. All in all, that is 23 squadrons. The TEDBF is for the Navy, so bot counting them.

23 sqd will be replacing around 15 sqd (mig, mirage & jaguar mostly)
so 31- 15 + 23 + 6 (mrfa) = 45 sqd roughly.
sounds good but we have to take delay into consideration 🙂

 

[Anant]

23 sqd will be replacing around 15 sqd (mig, mirage & jaguar mostly)
so 31- 15 + 23 + 6 (mrfa) = 45 sqd roughly.
sounds good but we have to take delay into consideration 🙂

Sir, the MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar fleet totals up to 12 squadrons. Since the Tejas is also a replacement for the MiG-21, one has to add, at the very least, 2 more squadrons (the last 2 still in service). Ideally, you'd be adding more MiG-21 squadrons as well since they were retired without replacement, but moving on. There has also been news that the 80-100 oldest Su-30MKIs (the first two batches) will be retired by 2045 or so, which comes to another 4-5 squadrons. Hence the 18-19 squadrons being replaced by 23 squadrons.

 

[Yikes]

Such a low number compared to China that mass manufactures any jet they develope, they have 500+ J10 alone lol

 

[NSR]

India needs at least 200 to 300 Tejas MK IIs as they will be bread and butter and meat and potatoes type of product for Indian IAF for many decades to come.
Tejas MK IIs are far better than Tejas Mk IAs and also they will replace all of Jaguars, Mig-29s, Mirage-2000Is, any remnants of Mig-21s.
So develop Tejas MK II prototype as fast as possible and get to FOC as quickly as possible.

 

[Chinese eater]

Entire these numbers is at the moment dependent on America engines while America is busy in promoting America and Canadian Khalistani terrorist against India. America is planning arrest of experience RAW chief.

india must be ready with alternative plans for engines

 

[Andy]

Now 404 supply pushed to March from Nov. Any idea what rate are they talking about? At 2 per month we will keep playing catch up...

 

[Neal.B]

India is supposed to have 1000 fighters till 2047 for two front wars. But I doubt they will have half of that at this rate.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Engine development programs need a better plan. Have 2 consortiums work on different engines. Expedite building testing infra. Start from ~15-25KN engines, move up every 3-4 years.

 

[linus52]

Engine availibility is very important part for Building 500 Fighter Jets Indigenously, for that No penalty on GE at the moment get the job done , Tejas Mk1A will require Engine after 8 to 10 years by the Time Kaveri Engine after Fine Tuning will b ready for MLU , with Foreign collaboration 110 kN Engine development willl bear fruits by 10 years that will power AMCA, TEDBF & Tejas MK2 till then has to rely on GE Engine supply . I always say Indigenous kaveri Engine with 85 kN to 90 kN should continue by Investing Funds , Test beds developing Light weigh material etc

Cannot wait for 10 yrs or longer bunch of IDIOTS in charge

 

[kunitesh]

India needs at least 200 to 300 Tejas MK IIs as they will be bread and butter and meat and potatoes type of product for Indian IAF for many decades to come.
Tejas MK IIs are far better than Tejas Mk IAs and also they will replace all of Jaguars, Mig-29s, Mirage-2000Is, any remnants of Mig-21s.
So develop Tejas MK II prototype as fast as possible and get to FOC as quickly as possible.

This is a good strategy..IAF must stop at 83 Tejas MK1 and procure around 200 MK2 instead as that will add more muscle ..83 MK1 will always be delivered not before 2030 so by then MK2 should be in production and should be built rapidly to close squadron gaps

 

[VedantaKiran]

Till such time that HAL & GTRE are unable the produce their own jet engine, this is just a pipe dream.

Tejas aircraft has taken 4 decades. HAL wasted the knowledge of developing an indigenous Maruti aircraft development.

And now they have wasted tax payers money for 40+ years. And still not able to deliver the aircraft.

And now the IAF and hence government is looking to augment the Su30MKIs, purchase either French Rafale or Su57s to avoid the squadron strength going down to 20s...

The management in HAL should hang their heads in shame. ISRO also faces challenges. But they have thrived. HAL is yet to deliver anything indigenous till date - they are good at only assembling aircraft under license - it is a slave mentality - there is no originality in thinking. Nor do they have the ability to reverse engineer a Russian engine like how the Chinese do it.

If they have an iota of conscience left, they should work extra and look to mate the Russian engines or improve the Kaveri engines by reverse engineering the Russian Su30MKIs engines.

 

[RAMACHANDRA K N]

IAF has put the cart before the horse. Does IAF or anybody who is charged with the responsibility of National Security seriously think Western Military Powers or Others are over eager to assist IAF realise it's Atmanirbhar Objectives and accept intellectual property and financial losses as a consequence. We have lost a valuable time of four plus decades since 1980's for Not having Tested and Qualified Aircraft Engines to Power the Tejas Mark1A, Mark2, TEDBF, AMCA, or future generations of Aircrafts. Priority was never given to development of Aircraft Engines. Huge kickbacks that flowed consequent to Multi-Billion Dollar Defence Purchases was a major deterrent/disincentive for indigenous development and manufacture of Aircraft Engines and related systems, Avionics etc. Less said about lackadaisical investment/efforts in Military R&D the better.

 

[Sandeep]

There is a large requirement for indigenous jets but we need more private sector companies to manufacture these jets as they manufacture it on time and to a very high standard and quality.

DRDO needs to partner more with the private sector and startups so that they can quickly develop all of the critical technology, parts, components and equipment as this is one of the reasons why there are long delays. We need to recruit more young and talented people working outside of DRDO or other DPSU that are involved in manufacturing some of the parts but we need more than that.