New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is likely to deliver the first Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the end of June. This aircraft will be from HAL’s latest assembly line in Nashik, Maharashtra, an official said.
This development comes days after IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh expressed concerns about delays in delivery of defence equipment. The IAF had signed a Rs 48,000 crore contract with HAL in February 2021 for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets. The first aircraft was to be delivered by March 31, 2024.
However, a delay in the supply of F404 engines by US-based GE Aerospace pushed the Tejas Mk-1A programme over a year past its original timeline.
The IAF currently operates 36 Tejas Mk-1 fighter jets. The Tejas Mk-1A jets are a marked improvement over the Tejas Mk-1s.
The MK-1A features the advanced Israel EL/M-2025 AESA radar, which will eventually be replaced by the indigenously developed Uttam AESA radar. The Uttam radar can track multiple targets and has a range of over 200 km, providing a 360-degree view.
The Tejas Mk-1A also has an upgraded digital fly-by-wire flight control computer that enhances maneuverability and flight safety. This system replaces traditional mechanical controls with an electronic interface. The aircraft also has a new Electronic Warfare suite including a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) system and an Advanced Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) pod, offering protection against various radar threats and enhanced survivability in combat.
The MK-1A also boasts improved avionics, processors, and display systems. It also features nine hard points for carrying various weapons, including Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles and Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM).
The Tejas MK-1A also has nearly 50% more indigenous content than the MK-1. It features 40 significant improvements, ensuring it meets the IAF’s operational requirements for the next three decades.
“The timeline is a big issue,” Air Chief Marshal Singh said last week at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025. “So, once a timeline is given, not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time. This is something we must look at. Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved? While signing the contract itself, sometimes we are sure that it is not going to come up, but we just sign the contract.”
Each HAL line — two at Bengaluru and one at Nashik — has the capacity to produce up to eight aircraft per year, subject to engine availability. According to the official, the first Tejas Mk-1A will be formally handed over to the IAF after completion of flight trials.
