In a worst-case scenario, the so-called “all-weather friends” China and Pakistan were to declare war on India in the near future, the Indian Air Force (IAF) would face a nightmare scenario. A parliamentary panel report from December acknowledged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates only 31 squadrons—far below the sanctioned 42 required to effectively counter simultaneous threats from China and Pakistan.
HAL’s repeated delays: A crisis in the making
While the report assured that strategies are in place to address the crisis following the retirement of ageing aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27, it also described the situation as “worrisome,” given that four more squadrons are set to retire soon. To bridge this gap, India had conceptualised the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project in the 1980s to replace the MiG-21 fleet. However, the Tejas programme—anchored by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)—has faced persistent delays spanning over four decades, encountering roadblocks at nearly every stage despite its strategic significance.
No matter what strategies the parliamentary panel report mentions to tackle the fighter jet shortage, they are simply insufficient—something that has now been admitted in no uncertain terms.
No more ‘ho jayega’ attitude
When the custodian of the Guardian of the Skies himself feels uneasy, the alarm cannot go unnoticed or unheard. On Monday, IAF chief Air Marshal AP Singh made it clear that he was “just not confident” in HAL’s ability to deliver the Tejas fighter jets to the air force. Speaking at Bengaluru Aero India 2025, he firmly rejected the casual ‘ho jayega’ mindset, stressing that complacency had no place in such a critical programme.
It is surprising that while defending the public enterprise, HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil did not explicitly deny “laziness” as one of the causes of the delay, although he primarily attributed it to technical issues.
Sunil assured that the public sector undertaking would soon begin delivering the aircraft. By the end of this year, one aircraft from HAL’s Nasik facility and two from Bengaluru will be handed over to the Air Force.
As per the existing contract, the complete delivery of all 83 LCA Mk1A jets is expected to be completed within the next three and a half years, the India Today reported. However, the air force is still awaiting the delivery of four out of the 40 Tejas Mk1 jets—predecessors to the Mk1A—which were ordered back in 2010.
The GE engine setback
The HAL CMD attributed the delays in the Tejas programme primarily to supply chain disruptions caused by General Electric (GE) but added that the US-based engine manufacturer had now resolved its production issues and was expected to supply 12 F-404 engines for the LCA Mk1A within the year.
Reaffirming HAL’s commitment to delivering 180 Tejas Mk1A aircraft by 2031-32, he maintained that the project remained on schedule. He also highlighted the company’s expanded production capacity, which now allows for the manufacture of 24 Tejas Mk1A jets annually.
The Tejas Mk1A is an advanced variant of the Tejas Mk1, India’s indigenous single-engine, multi-role fighter jet developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with HAL.
Referring to the existing contract signed with the defence ministry in 2021, Sunil noted that HAL had been tasked with delivering 83 Tejas Mk1 jets—73 fighters and 10 trainers—at a cost of Rs45,696 crore, with GE responsible for supplying 99 engines. The ministry had issued a fresh tender last year for the procurement of 97 additional Tejas LCA jets, an estimated Rs 65,000 crore deal.
Are GE engines Tejas Mk1A arriving soon?
GE Aerospace has reportedly informed the Indian government that it will begin delivering F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets by April 2025, marking a delay of two years from the original schedule. According to The Print, the American engine manufacturer was initially expected to start deliveries in 2023.
The delay had previously drawn attention at the highest levels, with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly raising concerns over the issue.
Concerns over the slow progress of the LCA Mk1A programme were also flagged by the IAF in August. At the time, the first Tejas Mk1A aircraft was due for delivery by March 31, 2024, but HAL, responsible for its production, had projected a revised timeline pushing the delivery to November 2024.
By mid-2023, supply chain disruptions had already delayed F404 engine deliveries by over a year.
According to The Print, GE’s delay in engine deliveries is linked to financial difficulties faced by a South Korean partner responsible for supplying certain components. Efforts are now underway to explore the possibility of manufacturing these parts in India.
Delays in the Tejas Mk1A programme have also been attributed to Israel’s inability to integrate the radar on schedule, reportedly due to its ongoing involvement in the escalating conflict in West Asia. Deliveries will commence only after the ongoing aircraft trials are successfully completed. The first Tejas Mk1A series aircraft, designated LA 5033, completed its maiden flight in March.
However, rather than using a newly supplied engine, it was fitted with a Category-B engine—essentially a reserve unit from a previous agreement with GE. Given that the new GE engines have yet to arrive at HAL’s facilities, meeting projected timelines remains uncertain.
The early years
India formally launched the LCA project in 1983 under the ADA, with HAL as the primary manufacturer. The objective was to develop a modern, lightweight, multi-role fighter jet with indigenous technology.
The initial timeline aimed for a prototype by the early 1990s, but delays surfaced due to limited technological expertise and dependence on foreign suppliers for critical components. By 1998, India’s nuclear tests led to economic sanctions by the US, restricting access to the GE F404 engine, flight control software and advanced avionics, further pushing back the programme.
First flight and struggles with operational clearance
After multiple delays, the Tejas prototype made its maiden flight on January 4, 2001, marking a significant milestone. In 2003, then-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee officially named the aircraft Tejas, meaning “radiance” in Sanskrit.
However, despite its first flight, the aircraft still had a long way to go before being inducted into the IAF. The first major hurdle was achieving Initial Operational Clearance (IOC), which was originally expected by 2005 but kept slipping due to issues with the fly-by-wire system, radar integration, weight constraints and weapons testing.
It was only in 2011 that Tejas received IOC-I, permitting basic flight operations, with IOC-II following in 2013, allowing limited combat roles.
Final operational clearance and first squadron induction
The IAF insisted on multiple modifications, including weight reduction, enhanced maneuverability and improved electronic warfare capabilities. These demands led to further delays before Tejas finally achieved Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in 2019, making it combat-ready.
The first Tejas squadron, No. 45 “Flying Daggers”, was formed in 2015, but it had limited operational capabilities due to the aircraft’s evolving development status.
With operational clearance in place, the next challenge was ramping up production to meet the IAF’s requirements. HAL struggled with slow manufacturing rates, causing delays in deliveries.
Looking ahead: Tejas Mk2 and the road to self-reliance
While the Tejas Mk1A is set to boost India’s fighter jet fleet, the development of Tejas Mk2 is already underway. Expected to feature a more powerful GE F414 engine, improved aerodynamics and greater payload capacity, the Mk2 variant is projected to enter production by 2030. Additionally, a naval variant, known as the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), is in development for the Indian Navy.
If India can resolve production bottlenecks, the Tejas programme could mark a significant achievement in the country’s aerospace industry. The success of Tejas will also serve as a stepping stone for India’s future fifth-generation fighter aircraft reinforcing the nation’s commitment to defence self-reliance.
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