Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is set to hand over the first two Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by next month, but the broader delivery schedule for the 83 aircraft has slipped by at least four quarters, officials confirmed.
According to HAL sources, the two jets are already assembled and will undergo firing trials this month before being formally inducted. However, the larger production plan has hit turbulence due to delays in the supply of engines from the United States.
HAL was slated to receive 12 General Electric F404-IN20 engines by the end of 2025 but has so far received only two. Another two were expected in August, but the delivery never materialised. With no clarity on the remaining engines, officials admit that meeting the original 2025 target looks increasingly difficult.
The ₹48,000 crore contract for 83 Mk1A jets was signed in 2021 with a six-year completion window. Delivery was earlier projected to wrap up by mid-2028, but with the current delays, timelines have been extended by at least a year.
The Indian Air Force’s sanctioned strength stands at 42 fighter squadrons, a number fixed with the possibility of a two-front conflict in mind. At present, the IAF operates 31 squadrons. With two MiG-21 squadrons scheduled to retire on September 26, the strength will drop further to 29 squadrons, deepening concerns over operational preparedness.
Officials stress that while the first Tejas Mk1A jets will be inducted on time, delays in mass production could strain the Air Force’s combat readiness in the coming years.
