Defence
HAL To Deliver 12 Tejas Mk 1A Fighter Jets To IAF By End Of FY26
Tejas Mark1A
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director D K Sunil has defended the government’s decision to place an additional order for 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk 1A, even as the earlier order of 83 aircraft is yet to be delivered.
Sunil said continuous flow of orders is critical to keep global aerospace companies engaged, warning that supply chains risk bottlenecks if gaps emerge.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Sunil described the General Electric (GE) F404 engines powering the LCA Mk 1A as “wonderful” and “reliable”, adding that the ongoing tariff strains with the US have had “absolutely no impact” on defence discussions.
He said HAL’s negotiations with GE on transfer of technology for the F414 engines, intended for the LCA Mk 2, were proceeding cautiously to avoid confusion later.
The additional Rs 62,370-crore deal signed with the Ministry of Defence earlier this week, Sunil said, was a “vote of confidence” in HAL’s capability.
He stressed that the order brings long-term certainty for the many companies—large and small—working with HAL.
With this agreement, the Indian Air Force will eventually receive 180 Tejas Mk 1A fighters, including the 83 ordered in 2021 under a Rs 48,000-crore contract.
Asked about the delay of over a year in beginning deliveries of the initial 83 aircraft, Sunil said HAL had already built and tested 10 fighters, with more in readiness, and insisted that execution was not an issue.
He pointed to capacity expansion through a third assembly line in Nashik and a fourth in partnership with the private sector.
The challenge, he said, lies with the supply chain, citing past experience when GE shut down its F404 engine line due to lack of orders.
The latest order includes 113 F404 engines, worth over $1 billion, and GE is closely monitoring the programme.
HAL expects GE to deliver 12 engines by March 2026, enabling the delivery of 12 aircraft within this financial year.
"Since the airframes are ready and tested, it’s just about the integration of engines. We are looking at the delivery of 12 aircraft by the end of this financial year," he added.
On the LCA Mk 2, Sunil said the aircraft is scheduled to fly by early 2027, with production expected by 2030-31 after certification.
The Mk 1A will integrate indigenous ASTRA and MBDA’s ASRAAM missiles, while the Mk 2 will feature the GE F414 engine, Uttam Radar, and indigenous electronic warfare systems.
He confirmed that GE has limitations on transferring certain technologies due to US regulations, but negotiations were nearing conclusion.
Sunil added that HAL is also collaborating with Safran of France on a 120 kN engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and developing smaller engines independently.
