Tejas Mk2 Prototype Assembly Leveraging Mk1 Suppliers for Streamlined Component and Materials Sourcing, Rollout Expected by Year End

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) officials have provided significant updates on the Tejas Mk2 program at Aero India 2025. The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is progressing steadily towards its first prototype rollout, anticipated by the end of this year.

The Tejas Mk2, an advanced version of the Tejas Mk1, is currently in its final assembly stages. Major components, including the center fuselage and wings, have been delivered and integrated into the assembly jig.

HAL officials confirmed that the aircraft is being assembled using a streamlined approach, leveraging the existing supplier network from the Tejas Mk1 program. This strategy ensures a readily available supply of components that meet the required quality standards.

While the prototype rollout remains on schedule, the first flight has been slightly adjusted to April or May 2026, from the initial target of March 2026. This minor delay is attributed to the complexity of integrating the aircraft's advanced systems and subsystems. HAL officials emphasized that the delay will not significantly impact the overall program timeline.

The assembly of the first Tejas Mk2 prototype is a meticulous process, expected to take over ten months to complete. This extended timeline is necessary to ensure the integration of as many operational systems as possible before the first flight, ultimately accelerating the development process.

In a departure from traditional procedures, HAL has opted to bypass the standard Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) certifications for the Tejas Mk2. Instead, the aircraft will be cleared for production after achieving a basic IOC, focusing primarily on the core weapons configuration. This includes Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAMs), Close Combat Missiles (CCM), and Precision Guided Munitions (PGM).

This streamlined approach aims to expedite the production and induction of the Tejas Mk2 into the Indian Air Force (IAF). Once the basic IOC is achieved, the IAF will assume responsibility for integrating additional weapons systems and conducting further trials, including in-flight refueling. This collaborative approach between HAL and the IAF is expected to significantly reduce the time required for the Tejas Mk2 to become operational.

The Tejas Mk2 boasts significant technological advancements over its predecessor, incorporating new features and capabilities. These upgrades contribute to the aircraft's enhanced performance but have also played a role in the slight delay in the first flight. Ultimately, these advancements are crucial for ensuring the Tejas Mk2's effectiveness in modern aerial combat scenarios.

 

[sanket]

Good News, Finally 2026 Tejas MK2 will have First Flight

 

[Preet]

Dunno if the air intakes and canard placements are right. I believe the scientists, but the canard placement above and in front of the air intake might actually cut the air inflow. If that happens, it's gonna be a huge headache. Let's see!

 

[swatkats_razor]

I will believe it when I see it for real. For now, this end of 2025 is just a random date HAL is known to throw at defence publications to score brownie points.

 

[Hello]

Unless HAL is run by IAF like in Pakistan, there is no hope of improvement. Simply using GE as an excuse even though they have engines and delaying, now showing off in Aero India... blabla...

 

[Hari Sud]

Nay sayers, eat your heart out. It is coming sooner than expected by you.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Even if the 1st flight happens next year, you add 10 years more to its testing and final product. Then production will start. It's basically a never-ending saga now for someone like me who has been following defence issues for the last 15 years.

Really no interest now in this joke.

 

[Torontodude]

I tend to believe HA, considering lesser Geo-Politics / Pressure on MK2, as compared to AMCA. Lets hope for the best.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

Dunno if the air intakes and canard placements are right. I believe the scientists, but the canard placement above and in front of the air intake might actually cut the air inflow. If that happens, it's gonna be a huge headache. Let's see!

No, actually the canards in normal fighter aircraft that are close-coupled to say like the Su-30MKI, Rafale, LCA help in airflow to the air intakes at high angles of attack. The placement of the canards is one of the main issues that are taken care of by subjecting the model to various angles of attack in many configurations like straight flight, banked and inverted as well. The next important issue is also figuring out the moments of force on the airframe that is produced when the canards are deflected, etc. Extensive wind tunnel blowdown would have taken place before the final configuration.

 

[Andy]

Even the engine deal is not signed yet. That'll become a bottleneck suddenly on D day

 

[beencensured]

I will believe it when I see it for real. For now, this end of 2025 is just a random date HAL is known to throw at defence publications to score brownie points.

What are you thinking this is China, America or South Korea? The inbred lot of anti-Hindu beaurcrats living off colonial time lines and approvals.

 

[SURESH RAO]

80% of the activities for MK1A is repeated in MK2. HAL already delivered 40 MK1 and already tested two MK1A. So MK2 should not be a big deal.

Look at Dassault, from 2000 to 2016 they have produced hundreds of TPRafale F3. Yet they took 3.5 years to deliver the first TPRafale F3 to India (from 2016 to 2019). Inspite of using the same engine developed in 2000. And even TPRafale F4 will carry the same engine Snecma M88.

 

[Sandeep]

Even if the 1st flight happens next year, you add 10 years more to its testing and final product. Then production will start. It's basically a never-ending saga now for someone like me who has been following defence issues for the last 15 years.

Really no interest now in this joke.

The Tejas MK1A jets or MK1 was very long as it was the first jet that we have ever constructed by ourselves. Now we have experience, knowledge and a lot of flight data which allows us to move on and develop other jet more quickly by using the Tejas MK1A as a baseline and we can expand on that.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

The Tejas MK1A jets or MK1 was very long as it was the first jet that we have ever constructed by ourselves. Now we have experience, knowledge and a lot of flight data which allows us to move on and develop other jet more quickly by using the Tejas MK1A as a baseline and we can expand on that.

In a normal scenario, a normal company will do that. Not HAL. Just observe how mk2 will take a decade after its first flight to become a final product.

I'll be happy if proven wrong.

 

[Sandeep]

I will be very happy whenever the jet is fully constructed and assembled and even happier when it has its first flight. We need these jets to urgently replace our old jets which should be retiring now. This jet will be very advanced and will strengthen our fire power which is what we need. Also we should make all preparations in ensuring production lines and supply chains are set up in advance so production can start quickly after they certify the technology and equipment.

Now we need to quickly conclude the F414 engine deal so that we can start production ASAP. We have purchased some directly from GE to cover 4-6 prototype jets which will allow us to test and certify the technology and equipment like radar, software, jet computer, weapons etc which should be done as quickly as possible.

Also manufacturing the F414 engine and creating a new supply chain, setting up manufacturing equipment, educating and training the staff etc will take some time as well so we should quickly conclude the engine deal now so that we have everything set up and ready as soon as production begins.

 

[Arin Kumar]

I hope with all my heart that Modi-ji can clinch a deal that will be followed through for GE F414 and hope it is for at least 200 engines.

We have come a long way in designing all the different components of the Tejas Mk1 and Tejas Mk2. We are now capable of manufacturing the:

(1) Fuselage (2) AESA Radars (3) Internal Electronics (4) Landing Gears (5) All types of weapons. (6) Laser Pods (7) Drop Tanks

A few days ago, we were also able to build the nose cone also.

The only thing missing is the Ejection Seat, which we import from the UK.

The only thing we are missing is the Engine. And we must beg, borrow, plead, bribe - do whatever is necessary to get as many of these engines in our hand as possible.

 

[PKPRS]

Dunno if the air intakes and canard placements are right. I believe the scientists, but the canard placement above and in front of the air intake might actually cut the air inflow. If that happens, it's gonna be a huge headache. Let's see!

I hope the ADA experts know better and this design is like in Rafale and Gripen-E which is close coupled, where as Eurofighter Typhoon has the canards far forward (long Arm) , due to the shape of the air intake, Typhoon's air intake was designed to work in combination with thrust vectoring control, close coupled canards have better turn and pitch rate.

 

[Enforcer]

Why do we need MK2? We already have MK1A. What advantages does MK2 provide?

 

[Monil Patel]

Engine delivery karwa de bhai trump

 

[RajeshN]

Unless HAL is run by IAF like in Pakistan, there is no hope of improvement. Simply using GE as an excuse even though they have engines and delaying, now showing off in Aero India... blabla...

Till 1992 last 30 years HAL WAS RUN BY MILITARY PERSON, IAF IS THE MOST CORRUPT BODY NOW BLAMES HAL SO THAT THEY CAN IMPORT

 

[Preet]

I hope the ADA experts know better and this design is like in Rafale and Gripen-E which is close coupled, where as Eurofighter Typhoon has the canards far forward (long Arm) , due to the shape of the air intake, Typhoon's air intake was designed to work in combination with thrust vectoring control, close coupled canards have better turn and pitch rate.

Typhoon has a different intake so won't compare to it. But Rafale and Gripen, both have canards behind the intakes and Gripen using the same engine has a larger intake as well. I believe the guys at ADA (they might be slow, but they are capable), but I'm not sure this time. 😌

 

[nivas9531]

All are commenting like child's
HAL having two production lines which are able to produce18 to 20 Tejas fighter jets mynus engines. Now they had the commitments for 80 plusTejas mk1a,and another90+ Tejas mk1A and18 more su-30s now we just see how these orders been completed with this meager production lines
I think it will take 20 years for HAL to built these things.if U S engines supplies once streamlined then MK-2 , when Hal finalize the engine contract there is no second option once G E fails ,what is the future, nothing is clear, where is the effort to build more production lines, where is recruiting for additional staff,
Also dreaming for AMCA, tedbf, where is the infrastructure.
Government not interested to invest amounts in this. they put all the blame game on HAL and then it will be a scapegoat, the organisation go under controll of adani and some American companies for huge kickbacks

 

[Benith]

Dunno if the air intakes and canard placements are right. I believe the scientists, but the canard placement above and in front of the air intake might actually cut the air inflow. If that happens, it's gonna be a huge headache. Let's see!

Yup! the canard placment is an extremely poor design choice. Its very high risk. The fact that Gripen can supercruise and tejas mk2 cannot is also proof that wing and intake design is fairly less than optimal.

 

[Preet]

Yup! the canard placment is an extremely poor design choice. Its very high risk. The fact that Gripen can supercruise and tejas mk2 cannot is also proof that wing and intake design is fairly less than optimal.

Yea.. but for supercruise.. bigger reason is, Gripen uses a different version of GE414, it has 64kN dry thrust and not the usual 58kN.. we don't know which one India is using till now for sure though.. let's see.

 

[Benith]

80% of the activities for MK1A is repeated in MK2. HAL already delivered 40 MK1 and already tested two MK1A. So MK2 should not be a big deal.

Look at Dassault, from 2000 to 2016 they have produced hundreds of TPRafale F3. Yet they took 3.5 years to deliver the first TPRafale F3 to India (from 2016 to 2019). Inspite of using the same engine developed in 2000. And even TPRafale F4 will carry the same engine Snecma M88.

Not an apt analogy. Rafale is not takeaway food you order and sit watching your phone for 10 minutes. It takes at least 4 years normally to deliver from an existing production line. When the French were desperate to win and proposed to deliver from their own lot, India took its time to negotiate MMRCA for 4-5 years. Regardless, Tejas Mk2 is a completely new airframe and no production line exists to deliver anything for the next 5-6 years.