New footage from the Tejas Mk1A manufacturing facility reveals that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is successfully pushing forward with its production schedule, undeterred by the ongoing shortage of GE F404-IN20 engines.
The visuals, recently shared by the Zone Victor Aerospace & Defence YouTube channel, offer a detailed look at multiple fighter airframes advancing through the assembly bays at the same time.
Simultaneous Assembly Operations
The images clearly show an airframe marked as LA-5060 on the assembly line, which is the 28th Tejas Mk1A jet slated for production. Further along the facility, airframe LA-5064, the 32nd aircraft in the series, is also visible.Seeing both fighters on the factory floor highlights that HAL is efficiently managing structural construction and systems integration across different workstations simultaneously.
Given their current state in the video, these specific jets are expected to finish their main structural buildup within the next few months.
Following this phase, they will be prepared for internal systems fitting, ground trials, and ultimately flight testing as soon as their propulsion systems are delivered.
Proactive Strategy Amidst Supply Hurdles
These updates prove that HAL has refused to halt its manufacturing lines due to engine delays.While the first production aircraft, LA-5033, has successfully wrapped up its initial flight trials, it is still awaiting official handover to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
To maintain momentum and avoid halting the assembly lines, HAL has employed an innovative workaround.
The aerospace manufacturer has already successfully completed the manufacturing and preliminary flight testing of the first 20 Tejas Mk1A jets by utilizing backup Category-B (CAT-B) F404 engines.
These completed airframes are currently held in safe storage, waiting only to receive their final operational engines.
The supply of engines from the United States remains the primary bottleneck, but recent developments offer a positive outlook. As of mid-2026, HAL received its seventh GE F404-IN20 engine from GE Aerospace.
Additionally, a sixth engine that had previously developed a minor technical snag has now been fully rectified by the manufacturer and cleared for operational use, injecting fresh momentum into the programme.
Rather than pausing work, HAL's strategy involves assembling all possible components—such as wiring harnesses, radars, hydraulics, avionics, cockpit equipment, and landing gear. This ensures the aircraft are practically finished and ready for quick turnaround when the delayed engines finally arrive.
Expanding Capacity for the Future
Spotting the 32nd aircraft (LA-5064) on the line shows that HAL is building a massive inventory of nearly finished jets. To further boost this manufacturing capacity, HAL recently inaugurated a third production line in Nashik.This expansion aims to eventually produce between 24 to 30 fighters annually, protecting the wider defence manufacturing ecosystem from supply chain disruptions.
In total, the ongoing factory activities indicate that HAL is in the process of stockpiling enough fighters to outfit almost two full IAF squadrons. The main factor slowing down induction is no longer India's domestic manufacturing capability, but rather the timely import of foreign engines.
This represents a major turning point for the programme. In the past, critics often pointed to HAL's production rate as a concern. Today, the assembly lines have proven their efficiency.
As General Electric is expected to increase engine shipments in the coming months, HAL is perfectly positioned to quickly install them into the waiting airframes.
This rapid transition will allow the IAF to induct a large number of advanced Tejas Mk1A fighters in a highly compressed timeframe, giving a crucial boost to India's aerial defence capabilities.
