India's Tejas MkII On Track for 2026 Rollout, First Flight Expected in 2027

India's ambitious indigenous fighter jet program, the Tejas MkII, is making headway towards its anticipated maiden flight.

While component acquisition and preparation are underway, full-scale assembly of the advanced aircraft is forecast to begin in mid-2025, leading to a potential prototype rollout in early 2026.

Component Sourcing and Assembly Timeline​

The Tejas MkII project involves complex coordination of domestic and international partnerships. Key components such as Long-Range Replaceable Units (LRUs) are being sourced from various suppliers, showcasing the project's global supply chain.

While this international collaboration offers access to cutting-edge technology, the procurement process for certain domestically manufactured components, specifically some fuselage parts, has experienced delays. These essential elements are now expected in late 2024 or early 2025.

Despite minor setbacks, the overall assembly process remains on schedule.

The assembly jig, a fundamental framework for aircraft construction, will be established later this year. This vital milestone will pave the way for initial assembly stages, but full-scale activity is projected to commence around mid-2025.

Prototype Rollout and First Flight Projections​

The Tejas MkII prototype's official unveiling, or rollout, is tentatively scheduled for early 2026. This highly anticipated event will signal a significant step in the project's evolution. However, pinpointing an exact rollout date depends on the timely arrival of parts with extended manufacturing lead times.

The Tejas MkII's first flight, a landmark moment, is currently estimated for 2027. This deliberate timeline underscores the intricate testing, integration, and calibration required of all aircraft systems to ensure safety and optimal performance.

Significance of the Tejas MkII​

The Tejas MkII represents a cornerstone in India's drive for self-reliance in defense technology.

This 4.5 generation fighter boasts enhancements over its predecessor, including a more powerful engine, advanced avionics, and an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

These upgrades position the Tejas MkII to serve as a backbone of the Indian Air Force, gradually replacing older fleets like the Jaguar, MiG-29, and Mirage-2000.

Conclusion​

The Tejas MkII development is a complex endeavor with substantial implications for India's aerospace industry and national defense.

While hurdles and adjusted timelines are inherent in projects of this magnitude, the overall trajectory signifies steady progress toward the fighter's rollout and eventual integration into the Indian Air Force.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

HAL had said in the past that the plane will be delivered in T+36 months. I hat is, 36 months after the clearance. Then how did HAL chief in Jan 2021 say that he will roll out in August 2022, barely 20 months later? Not to mention, PIB sources mention funds released by GoI well before the sanction by CCS. Clearly, HAL has wasted 1000s of crores and is now lying to save itself. And MoD is not punishing it.

there is not even a prototype yet, and you are talking about plane being delivered. Earlier the funds that were sanctioned were not for prototype development. So saying that HAL wasted 2,500 crore is bull.

 

[Sunnyj]

Hopefully it will at least take on the j15 with supposedly 1700+ trms AESA, composite airframe and RAM coatings, not sure our MKI will be up to the task.

 

[desigandu]

the Money was released by the MoD only in 2022. The program was progressing only on I=internal HAL funds. And the benchmark for indigenisation was increased around that time, That is what led to delay in rollout, first flight etc, as indigenous versions of foreign components had to be developed.

The procurement process of Indian defence sector is still so bad because of the push for indigenisation. This is a very recent phenomena. 10 years ago, we used to buy everything from abroad, most of it from russia, so process was pretty simple.

The recent reforms that have happened, and the roadmaps for indigenisation and domestic procurement that have been created, will need time to set in and function properly. Unfortunately India started too late in this journey. If we had started on this indigenisation journey, 10 years sooner.....

IAF, HAL, MoD, DAC, DRDO all need to work together and be on same page, which is easier said than done.

I agree...All Bharat watchers and supporters want DRDO, HAL, MOD, IDHQ, IAF, IN, IA to succeed but hope is not a strategy and time is precious, while China is heavily rearming...Transforming how the entire process including political considerations must be relooked at - hopefully soon after the elections...National Security is too important to be just another ministry...We know what the problems are and thus instead of just crying or blaming we need solutions as their are no viable alternatives to atmanirbharta if we aspire to become a great power.

 

[Borodine]

Let HAL actually deliver instead of just focussing on a narrative...There is a lot riding on Tejas-Mk2, AMCA and TEDBF

TEDBF is an unnecessary luxury that should be scrapped. We dont need too many carriers. Our existing requirements can easily be met by Rafale-M orders. The Navy should instead focus on the basics such as minesweepers, more modern destroyers and frigates and above all, subs. HAL's focus should be solely on the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA for now.

 

[Borodine]

this time line is too relaxed the 1st flight should happen by mid 2025. this is too slow. Need to involve some of the private players in industry to take advantage of parallelism.

They are already involving private players. The thing is that we just dont have adequate aeronautical engineering experience in this country. Everybody just wants to be involved in software development and data science.

 

[The_rED_dEVIL]

Let HAL actually deliver instead of just focussing on a narrative...There is a lot riding on Tejas-Mk2, AMCA and TEDBF

Yes, even F414 engine deal is not signed. However, what about 99 engines that were ordered in 2010? None of them were used anywhere.

 

[NSR]

It would be a great boost to India if a prototype really gets built and conducts its maiden flight in 2026.
I pray for that as it is the most important and consequential fighter for Indian security.

India already has about 10+ GE F-414INS6 engines in its inventory so keep building.

Please do not wait for the local manufacturing deal to consummate.

 

[Dredd]

Then how did HAL chief in Jan 2021 promise to deliver the aircraft in August 2022, when HAL itself said that making the plane will take at least 36 months?

That's the magic of HAL 🙂 ... They still blame Covid for delays. Now they are blaming Ukraine /Gaza conflict for delays, ~Tomorrow they might blame ISIS for delays.

 

[Man H]

Yes, even F414 engine deal is not signed. However, what about 99 engines that were ordered in 2010? None of them were used anywhere.

99 engines were F404 and they are being used in Tejas

 

[Pad UwU]

You mean the prototype will might be seen in 2026😸😜🙃

 

[bonito]

HAL actually having Three projects at a Time Tejas MK1A , Tejas MK2 prototype & AMCA . Hope First Flight will b in 2026.

Trainers, Super sukoi upgrade. Donier 228 production, there is also some Kiran replacements planned. Not to mention all the heli projects

 

[Anant]

TEDBF is an unnecessary luxury that should be scrapped. We dont need too many carriers. Our existing requirements can easily be met by Rafale-M orders. The Navy should instead focus on the basics such as minesweepers, more modern destroyers and frigates and above all, subs. HAL's focus should be solely on the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA for now.

TEDBF would also form the basis for our naval shore squadrons. Moreover, with three carriers including a larger 65,000 ton vessel in the 2040s, we will need close to 100 aircraft just for the carriers (including replacements). Add in shore squadron numbers, and that number approaches 150.

There is even a chance that once we have the TEDBF in sufficient numbers, the Rafale Ms can be transferred to the IAF or transferred to shote squadrons.

 

[Akshat]

there is not even a prototype yet, and you are talking about plane being delivered. Earlier the funds that were sanctioned were not for prototype development. So saying that HAL wasted 2,500 crore is bull.

Then please explain the HAL chief’s comment. He made the claim, not me.

 

[Rick Golder]

Even if the prototype is unvailed in 2026, and first flight in 2027 (assuming worst delays), even then we will get production readyTejas mk2 ready by 2030-31 (assuming 3-4 years in trails). Which is not the most better result, but it's not that bad, given by 2031, the Tejas mk1a jets will all be delivered and the assembly line can be used by Tejas mk2 to full extent.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

That's the magic of HAL 🙂 ... They still blame Covid for delays. Now they are blaming Ukraine /Gaza conflict for delays, ~Tomorrow they might blame ISIS for delays.

Yeah, everything possible under the sun and moon except themselves !!

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Aap sahi baat kahe hai Mitrawar. Per kisi vi naye process ko karne me thoda samay lagta hai. Aeronautical area me research naya hi suru hua hai. Mai HAL ko defend nahi kar raha hoo, per current process ke Pura hone per hamare desh me Aeronautical field me ek revolution hone ki aasha Karni chahiye.

Bhai, abhi abhi jaage ho, khulla kar lo aur chai pee lo ! HAL canteen ki special !

 

[Deepak Hegde]

I agree, rollout by 2025 and flight by 2026. If delay then 2027. But I believe that delay will not happen anymore. Unless there is another global shock.

The only other shock that HAL will get is their own capabilities and that is enough to delay to 2028 or beyond!

 

[kumar]

HAL actually having Three projects at a Time Tejas MK1A , Tejas MK2 prototype & AMCA . Hope First Flight will b in 2026.

Funds for mk2 was released a year later than it was approved. Delay in long lead time components is inevitable.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

Disinvest 51% Shares of HAL to strategic Indian public private companies including BEL , BHEL,TATAS , Bharat forge ,Godrej, Adani Tonbo , MKU and others medium and small enterprises involved with a professional board financially empowered including oversight by IAF and DRDO its other agencies to recruit engineers designers , foremen and technicians on merit from all India basis and not only kannadas with freedom to hire foreign talent , planners , new generation equipment without waiting for babus approval who need to be delinked from all decision making . An aero space board on lines of space and atomic energy is the need of the hour .

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

I agree, rollout by 2025 and flight by 2026. If delay then 2027. But I believe that delay will not happen anymore. Unless there is another global shock.

Depends on Russia-Ukraine & Israel-Hamas conflict , but I m hoping that first flight by mid 2026