Tejas Mk2 Fighter Jets Expected for Indian Air Force by 2029

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is slated to begin receiving deliveries of the advanced Tejas Mk2 fighter jet by the end of 2029, according to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director, CB Ananthakrishnan.

This timeline depends on the timely completion of key development stages. HAL plans to roll out the first Tejas Mk2 prototype by late 2025, aiming for its first test flight in 2026. The aircraft will then enter a thorough flight test program lasting 2-3 years, ensuring its readiness and safety before production commences.

While the initial Tejas Mk2 will have some limitations in air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons capabilities, the IAF will take charge of integrating more advanced weaponry. The IAF has ambitious plans to eventually acquire 200 Tejas Mk2 jets, entirely replacing their older Jaguar, Mirage-2000, and MiG-29UPG fleets by 2040. This will significantly upgrade India's air combat power with domestically-produced, advanced fighters.

 

[Anant]

Lol...these morons have no idea what they talk about, putting finger in the air and saying we will be ready by that date!
If there was way to bet, I would bet on this:

IAF will have first squadron of 18 MK2 delivered not a day before Dec 31, 2033 except if the following happens:

- HAL is privatized from current 85% Govt holding to <50%
OR
-MK2 production is handed over to a pvt player.

Also, sit back, relax, and tell a story to your grandkids that someday fantasy planes like AMCA & TEDBF will fly in IAF colors and hopefully at that time he will remember you.

IAF probably won't have double digits of Tejas Mk 2 by that date unless HAL is able to either miraculously complete all tests within 3 years, or if they decide to pass on the LSP aircraft for full service.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

It would be a miracle if mk2 enters production in 2030.

 

[amerjit johal]

Lol...these morons have no idea what they talk about, putting finger in the air and saying we will be ready by that date!
If there was way to bet, I would bet on this:

IAF will have first squadron of 18 MK2 delivered not a day before Dec 31, 2033 except if the following happens:

- HAL is privatized from current 85% Govt holding to <50%
OR
-MK2 production is handed over to a pvt player.

Also, sit back, relax, and tell a story to your grandkids that someday fantasy planes like AMCA & TEDBF will fly in IAF colors and hopefully at that time he will remember you.

GoI holding is less than 72%.
No point of privitising if most of the shares are bought by retail investors and other financial instutions.
We need a major tech company to take a significant holding.
What we really need is for someone like BAe LM Boeing or Dassault to take 51% control.

 

[GMR]

Does this person remain 8 hrs with the press, churning out baseless dates .. need to gag him and make him shut up.. so irritating

 

[Aravind]

2029 all country will use 6th generation fighter jets so in that time how IAF will buy tejas mk2 ? and no world country will intersert on this fighter jet in 2029 so export mostly not possible

 

[saurav]

This sounds like a more realistic timeline, Tejas MK1A hasn’t rolled out yet and it is already middle of 2024, any delay in Tejas MK1A will trickle down and cause further delays in other projects, MK2 is only possible in the given timeline if one or more private players are also involved and do parallel production.

any delay in Tejas MK1A and later on MK1B will cause delays in MK2 and other products, this is jut my opinion, so there are more possibilities for delays in MK2.

 

[Frank]

Order 300 Tejas mk2 and cancel phoren maal MRFA...

The delivery timeline will be same anyway

Plus price of 300 mk2<<<<104 rafale

300mk2 ORDER WILL BE DEVIDED 50:50 BETWEEN HAL AND PRIVATE COMAPNY

 

[Frank]

114 Rafale will cost around 30-35 billion

In 2016 F3 rafale costed us 8 billion euro ~10 billon dollar.

Almost 270 million dollar per F3 Rafale.

Now it's 2024, 8 years of inflation.

And Rafale has new F4 version.

Let's assume the price of F4 Rafale after improvements and inflation 290-320 million per jet

Thus price of 114 jets will cost at least 30-35 billion dollar.
May reach 40 billion due to cost escalation bcz of local production like Su40MKI

Also 300 Tejas mk2 production order would be divided between Hal and private company (Tata or Adani or Mahindra) 50:50. Delivery will complete within 8/9 years if both (Hal n private company) produce 20 jet per year which is very much possible.

 

[Pink Panther]

any delay in Tejas MK1A and later on MK1B will cause delays in MK2 and other products, this is jut my opinion, so there are more possibilities for delays in MK2.

No body knows what’s going on with GE-F404 or GE-F414 engines and if there are any conditions tied to them like buying MRFA jets, so among all these oddities I think 2029 timeline is not realistic at all, also there is MK1B that IAF wants after MK1A, which means MK2 will delay even further.

 

[Neel Martin]

2029 is too early baboos make it 2035. in the mean time give info s like nuts for Tejas Mk2 made bolts for the tail made etc

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

HAL needs to work in three shifts 24x7x365 days 7 hrs each to achieve , speed , quality and delivery schedules .

 

[Sandeep]

Only an MoU has been signed. No deal.

Yes but it’s obvious that we are going to get those engines whatever the price negotiations come to. So it’s a fairly done deal. We can’t suddenly switch engines as it will require us to make changes to the jet, technology and system.

 

[Sandeep]

I wish it was ! What's been signed is only the deal for F-404 engines (75+97) and even the supply for that is shaky given the fact that GE can only manufacture certain number of engines per year. However, the deal for F414 INS6 engines, which are supposed to power Tejas MK-2 is not yet signed. We are still negotiating to get the right price for it. GE has however sold 8 F-414 engines off the shelf, already to HAL.

The deal for the F404 would be best if we made it India as we can’t rely solely on importing it from GE. Otherwise there would be 200 jets where we have little knowledge and experience on how it works or on any MRO that’s needed.

With the F414 engine it’s obvious that we are going to get those engines whatever the price negotiations come to. So it’s a fairly done deal. We can’t suddenly switch engines as it will require us to make changes to the jet, technology and system.

 

[Sandeep]

It simply isn't possible. The Tejas Mk 2 is sufficiently different from the Mk 1/1A that you would need a full spectrum of trials and testing, which will take 4-5 year at the very least.

Yes I thought as much. Don’t know why this article was published with an unrealistic date.

 

[vinod nair]

We can induct in large numbers of IOC standards once flight safety is throughly established to fill in depleted numbers

 

[sumeet biswas]

2029 bola Naa ?
It will come in 2045 mark my words 🤗
These PSU's are worthless when it comes to timely execution of steps

 

[Pink Panther]

First few years Tejas MK2 may have Low production , Because of Additional 97 Tejas MK1A order production Line may b split between Tejas MK1A 97 +200 Tejas MK2 .

what about MK1B, IAF wants this after MK1A.

 

[Pink Panther]

The deal for F-414 engines, which are proposed to be used for Tejas MK-2 has not yet been signed. So, what is the basis for the statement by HAL CMD? Only 8 F-414 engines have already been supplied to HAL. Is he saying the deliveries will commence using those engines?

may be HAL is talking about MK2 prototype rollout, they have a few GE-F414 engines, to setup infra for making GE-F414 Engine, just to setup infra to manufacture GE-F414 will itself take some time.

 

[Pink Panther]

The engine delivery deal is nothing but a sorry excuse. How can anyone sign such a deal without mk2 actually being ready? Tejas took some 15 years to move from first flight to production, give or take. So how can anyone estimate the pricing or vendors or anything so far down the line? Till the time HAL finishes Mk2 and an actual deal is signed, don’t expect a firm deal from GE.

We still can't spend $30-$40Bln dollars for that, best option is to cancel MRFA and focus on local products, hopefully there are no wars like WW3 before Tejas MK2 comes out.

 

[Pink Panther]

The deal for the F404 would be best if we made it India as we can’t rely solely on importing it from GE. Otherwise there would be 200 jets where we have little knowledge and experience on how it works or on any MRO that’s needed.

With the F414 engine it’s obvious that we are going to get those engines whatever the price negotiations come to. So it’s a fairly done deal. We can’t suddenly switch engines as it will require us to make changes to the jet, technology and system.

we need more F404 engines right now, F414 engines are for later use whenever MK2 is ready for production.

 

[saurav]

Role out by 2025 is feasible time. The rest is euphoric in nature. Tejas mk2 is with canards, and so has different aerodynamic the tejas mk1.

it is not like rolling dice.

 

[Raj]

Role out by 2025 is feasible time. The rest is euphoric in nature. Tejas mk2 is with canards, and so has different aerodynamic the tejas mk1.

It is highly doubtful with the Canards.

 

[Raj]

Dec 2028. That way he will not have any responsibility for the delay once he retires !

He might be rolling out a beautiful picture of MK2 to hang at his home after he retires in 2029.

 

[Raj]

So it will not take 3 years from contract date to roll out first Tejas MK2? Obviously it will, HAL is speaking lies....

Canards and it’s software will do all the magic.

 

[Raj]

There's a zero percent chance it'll happen by 2029. We've heard similar grand promises before, and none of them ever came true.

possible or not, we are not spending $40-50Bln to buy 114 foreign 4th gen jets, it is really not worth it, we only have $17-$20Bln allotted for MRFA.

 

[Raj]

what about MK1B, IAF wants this after MK1A.

Then how would they have time, in the meantime they have to Duper Sukhoi, MIG-29 UPG, atEDBF rollout and AMCA rollout, so it’s just impossible.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

may be HAL is talking about MK2 prototype rollout, they have a few GE-F414 engines, to setup infra for making GE-F414 Engine, just to setup infra to manufacture GE-F414 will itself take some time.

Yes, I also thought as much. There is no other way they could do that.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

He might be rolling out a beautiful picture of MK2 to hang at his home after he retires in 2029.

2028, not 2029. If 2029, he would be accountable for the delays !

 

[kejruddin]

impossible before 2029