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Tejas Mk1A Delivery Schedule Review Post-October 15, First Lot Expected by Year-End
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News18•03-10-2026, 21:10
Tejas Mk1A Delivery Schedule Review Post-October 15, First Lot Expected by Year-End
- •A critical review meeting for the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet program is scheduled for the second half of October to decide the delivery schedule.
- •Defence sources indicate the meeting will assess progress on integrating radars and weapons, with the first lot of jets expected by the end of the financial year.
- •Production bottlenecks, including global supply chain issues and delays in receiving F404 engines from GE Aerospace, have impacted the induction process.
- •HAL Chairman Ravi K confirmed 27 airframes are ready, but radar and weapon integration remains pending.
- •Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh expressed concern over the delay, highlighting its impact on planning and operational preparedness, especially with adversaries inducting future technologies.
Key Questions Answered
A critical meeting to evaluate the progress of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet programme and determine its delivery schedule is planned for the second half of October, following an update after October 15.
The Indian Air Force has placed orders for a total of 180 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets across two major contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to address depleting combat squadron strength.
The programme has faced production bottlenecks due to global supply chain challenges, delays in receiving F404 engines from GE Aerospace, and pending radar and weapon integration work.
