Tejas MkII R&D Phase to Conclude by Dec 2027, with First Flight Next Year and Initial Unit Induction by 2028: IAF Chief Reaffirms

India's indigenous fighter jet program received a significant boost as Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), announced a firm timeline for the Tejas MkII.

During a press briefing on Friday, the CAS confirmed that the Tejas MkII is scheduled for its inaugural flight next year, with the research and development phase concluding by December 2027. The Indian Air Force (IAF) anticipates inducting the first units of this advanced fighter jet by 2028.

This announcement comes as welcome news for the IAF, which has committed to procuring at least 120 Tejas MkII aircraft. The MkII is expected to play a crucial role in modernizing the IAF's combat fleet, replacing aging aircraft and providing a significant boost to India's air power capabilities.

"The MkII is supposed to make its first flight sometime next year, and it is expected to be inducted by 2028. We have planned for at least 120 LCA Mark-2 planes," stated Air Chief Marshal Singh.

Designed as a more potent successor to the Tejas Mk1, the MkII boasts enhanced range, increased payload capacity, and advanced avionics. The CAS emphasized the advantage of indigenous development, highlighting the ease and speed of integrating new weapon systems onto the Tejas MkII compared to imported platforms. This agility is vital for the IAF's ongoing modernization efforts.

Reflecting on past delays in the Tejas Mk1 program, Air Chief Marshal Singh stressed the importance of learning from those experiences. He identified technology transfer from design to production, even within India, as a key challenge that needs to be addressed to ensure timely delivery of the MkII.

"As far as Tejas MkII and AMCA are concerned, we all need to learn our lessons about what happened over Mk1 and what caused the delays. We should make sure that such things are ironed out," he asserted.

In a significant departure from tradition, the CAS advocated for greater private sector involvement in defence production. "I don’t think we can continue relying on one agency. HAL will have its own limitations in terms of what it can do within a time frame, we need to have private industry chipping in and coming in a big way," he stated.

This call for increased collaboration aligns with the Aeronautical Development Agency's (ADA) recent Expression of Interest (EOI) to private companies for the production of structural components for the Tejas MkII.

The ADA's EOI seeks private sector participation in manufacturing critical components like fuselage sections, wings, tails, and canards. This initiative aims to accelerate production and ensure the timely delivery of the Tejas MkII.

Air Chief Marshal Singh's clear vision for the Tejas MkII program and his emphasis on collaboration between HAL and the private sector signal a new era in Indian defence production.

With a defined timeline and a commitment to learning from past challenges, the IAF is poised to realize its goal of a modernized, indigenously produced combat fleet, contributing significantly to India's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) vision.

 

[R. Singh]

Theek theek lagaa lo ! Tejas-MK- must start rolling out from 1.4.2026 !

 

[Anant]

You know, he said the first flight would be in October next year. For that to happen, the aircraft would have to be rolled out by December or January. As far as I know, the Tejas Mk 2 exists as a set of frames, some components, a detailed set of drawings, plans, and in hopes.

Yeah... it isn't flying in October next year. That is just a statement that will be pushed back by ADA and HAL again.

 

[sanket]

IAF full confidence in Indigenous Development & production & supporting Now Time for Army to full back up & stop dreaming about stryker javelin ATHOS .

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

You know, he said the first flight would be in October next year. For that to happen, the aircraft would have to be rolled out by December or January. As far as I know, the Tejas Mk 2 exists as a set of frames, some components, a detailed set of drawings, plans, and in hopes.

Yeah... it isn't flying in October next year. That is just a statement that will be pushed back by ADA and HAL again.

As far i know you are a nobody, you have no inside information whereas he is chief of iaf. I think he will have far more information than you. In my opinion, you should stfu.

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

Have we learnt nothing from Tejas mk1, mk1a yet ?

It made it's first prototype flight in 2003, and mk1 was operational in 2018 with IOC and 2019 with FOC and today in 2024 we are still waiting for the mk1a !

A good 15 years later, and we ignore MMRCA 1/2 in the last 2 decades, got nothing and restarted it as MRFA.

Don't we get it that the Tejas mk2 will not be operational in this decade, but hopefully in the next?

It will surely miss all rollout, first flight, IOC, FOC, induction and operationalisation milestones and won't join the airforce at squadron level until 2034, even in mk2a form.

That is why each chief of air staff talks of MRCA/MRFA as we need those 100+ aircraft unfortunately, not yesterday but a decade or 2 ago was also not too early.

And that's why none of the other countries want to risk going for Tejas mk1a or mk2, as it's just not ready for India yet.

It's the most important project for the airforce, the MRFA and will be a big strain on our finances but is inevitable, unfortunately.

In 20+ years, the inflation and technical advancements have made it prohibitive expensive and nearly as expensive as the now prevalent 5+gen aircraft, with 6gen in development globally.

And with the 4.5+ being yesterday's aircraft, the government too feels the strain and doesn't see the feasibility of buying these relics at these prices.

Trusting HAL, DRDO, ADA and waiting for India private sector to be ready, has unfortunately taken us back to the mercy of the foreign OEMs.

it's now that we must accept facts and decide once and for all on MRFA and get the airforce what it needs, while the indigenous aircraft saga continues beyond the silver jubilee! And fast headed toward a golden jubilee!

Also, not sure why nobody saw the F404 engine delay/ issue coming up? and if we were going for 200+ of them and even 400+ during the operational life of Tejas mk1/mk1a, did we not consider it for the F414 kind of deal to build these in India, and it's associated supply chain, partners, etc to begin with ?!

Even if it was a sudden, desperate move to buy 97 more Tejas mk1a due to the perpetual delays with mk1a and mk2, it's still not being discussed or considered, atleast not in public domain to make F404 in India along with the more advanced F414 ?!

We are anyway throwing money on the enigma of aircraft engines made in India, be it RD33, AL-31, then why not F404 along with F414, is the biggest riddle of all.

the 4.5 gen TEDBF and 5.5 gen AMAC are atleast 2 decades away when the world will be ready with 6th gen and working probably on 7+ gen !