The Indian Air Force had earlier pointed out that the delivery of Tejas fighter jets under an already existing agreement was being delayed. The main reason for this setback was the repeated failure of GE Aerospace to meet its deadlines for supplying the required engines. The Ministry of Defence emphasised that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) ability to deliver the first two aircraft on time would be extremely important for moving forward with additional orders.
Months after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the Chief of the Air Force, voiced his concerns about frequent delays in major defence projects, Defence Secretary R. K. Singh announced that HAL is now scheduled to hand over two Tejas Mark-1A fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force by the end of September. He further revealed that after this delivery, the government is likely to sign a new contract for the procurement of 97 more Tejas jets, a move aimed at strengthening the combat power of the IAF. According to Singh, the first two jets from this expanded order are expected to be delivered with weapons integration by the end of September, as also reported by PTI.
The Tejas Mark-1A is a single-engine fighter aircraft developed to eventually replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet that has long served the Air Force. At present, the Indian Air Force has 38 Tejas aircraft in operational service, and more are under production. Back in February 2021, the government had approved a deal worth around Rs 48,000 crore for the acquisition of 83 Tejas jets. Singh pointed out that this ensures HAL will have a steady order book for the next four to five years.
Adding to this, the government recently cleared another major procurement decision—this time for an additional 97 Tejas jets, which will cost approximately Rs 67,000 crore. Singh expressed confidence in HAL’s capacity to further refine the Tejas platform and envisioned it becoming a reliable mainstay of the Air Force alongside the already operational Sukhoi fighter jets.
However, Singh also admitted that challenges continue to exist in meeting all the operational demands of the Indian Air Force. He openly said that there will still be a gap in capabilities, and to address that gap, India might have to explore other procurement options in the future.
The Tejas fighter jets are seen as a critical pillar of India’s defence modernisation plan. Not only are they expected to enhance India’s air combat strength, but they also play an important role in reducing the country’s reliance on foreign aircraft. Furthermore, with the successful integration of advanced radar systems and Indian-made weaponry, the operational capabilities of these jets are projected to improve significantly, making them a central asset in India’s defence strategy.
