Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has confirmed that it will supply a minimum of six Tejas multirole combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force by March next year, addressing concerns about delays in the program’s shipment timeline. This initiative, signed in 2021, aims to deliver a total of 83 Tejas jets in the advanced Mk-1A variant, with plans to progressively deliver between 16 to 24 aircraft annually starting June 2025.
The state-owned defense manufacturer attributed the project delays to challenges faced by GE Aerospace, the supplier of the F404 engines essential for the fleet. The ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent reduction in workforce capabilities led to GE’s inability to meet initial delivery schedules. HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Dinesh Kumar Sunil acknowledged the situation, noting that their production timeline faced criticisms, but stressed that the delays were primarily linked to engine delivery.
“Every company goes through its fair share of criticisms. It does happen,” Sunil stated, as reported by The Economic Times. “But the engine deliveries have not happened from GE Aerospace. They were to deliver the engines in 2023. Till date, we have got only one engine.”
Sunil emphasized that both HAL and GE have successfully negotiated a resolution to the hold-up, with GE committed to delivering 12 F404 engines by March 2026. He reassured stakeholders, saying, “I can assure you that as of today, six aircraft are ready. There is no let-up from our side. We are building those aircraft and getting them ready and we will be in a position to deliver.”
In addition to fulfilling the existing 83 Tejas order, Indian authorities are looking to procure an additional 97 jets from HAL, aimed to be integrated into the military inventory by the 2030s. The induction of these new aircraft will serve as a gradual replacement for the Indian Air Force’s aging fleet of MiG-21 Fishbed jets, which have been in service since the Soviet era.
The Tejas Mk-1A aircraft represents a substantial advancement in India’s defense capabilities. Measuring 13 meters (43 feet) in length with a wingspan of 8 meters (26 feet), the fighter jet can be equipped with a 23-millimeter twin-barrel cannon, precision-guided munitions, unguided bombs, and a range of multi-domain missiles. Notably, it boasts a top speed of Mach 1.8, equivalent to approximately 2,223 kilometers per hour (1,381 miles per hour), a combat range of 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), and a service ceiling of 16,000 meters (52,493 feet).
The Tejas Mk-1A is not only a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing but also a key element in the country’s strategic military planning, as it continues to modernize its air capabilities in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
