13th TEJAS MK-1A Conducts Maiden Test Flight With Category-B GE F-404 Engine
The 13th production TEJAS MK-1A aircraft, registered as LA-5045, has
successfully completed its maiden flight. This marks an important milestone in
sustaining the rollout of India’s indigenous fighter program, even as the
production ecosystem navigates temporary constraints.
The flight was powered by Category-B GE F-404 engines, specially designated as
a limited-life contingency measure, ensuring that momentum is not lost while
awaiting the contracted full-life engines.
The GE F-404 Category-B engines, while restricted in lifespan compared to the
standard F404-IN20 variant, provide sufficient thrust and performance levels
to enable initial testing, validation, and sortie generation.
Their use reflects a pragmatic approach by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
to bridge the gap created by supply-chain lags from GE. Without this measure,
the production line could have been stalled, creating cascading delays for
delivery targets committed to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The contracted F404-IN20 engines, which are of full-life specification, are
expected to replace these interim engines once deliveries from GE stabilise.
These engines form the baseline power-plant for the TEJAS MK-1A fleet,
optimised for long-term service operations, improved reliability, and extended
cycles before overhaul. Until then, the limited-life units will allow
continued progression in airframe production, flight validation, and initial
handovers.
This strategy serves a dual purpose: it prevents disruption to HAL’s TEJAS
MK-1A manufacturing line and sustains critical operational timelines for the
IAF.
Importantly, it ensures that delivery schedules, though tightly dependent on
engine availability, are not completely halted. It also enables pilots,
flight-test teams, and ground crews to continue working with the aircraft,
honing familiarity with the upgraded systems aboard the MK-1A variant, even
before the full-life engines are commissioned.
The decision underscores the challenges arising in large-scale military
aerospace programs, where global supply chains and international contractors
impact delivery schedules.
By incorporating limited-life engines into service temporarily, HAL has
created a flexible buffer that secures continuity and reinforces confidence
both within the IAF and across India’s aerospace sector. This development
illustrates the program’s growing maturity in finding practical solutions to
external constraints, ensuring TEJAS MK-1A continues to advance toward its
operational integration goals.
Comparison between the Category-B limited-life F404 engines being used as a
stopgap and the contracted F404-IN20 full-life engines for TEJAS MK-1A:
F404 Engine Comparison for TEJAS MK-1A
| Feature | Category-B F404 (Limited-Life) | F404-IN20 (Full-Life, Contracted) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Interim stopgap engines from GE | Standard contracted production variant for TEJAS MK-1A |
| Operational Life | Significantly reduced, limited usage hours and cycles | Full-life with extended service hours and longer overhaul intervals |
| Purpose | Used temporarily to sustain production line and flight testing | Permanent powerplant for IAF TEJAS MK-1A fleet |
| Performance | Provides adequate thrust for basic flight tests and validation | Optimized performance for long-term operational requirements |
| Reliability | Lower due to reduced usage cycles | High reliability designed for sustained frontline operations |
| Impact on Production | Keeps HAL’s assembly and flight testing active despite engine delivery delays | Ensures long-term fleet stability and operational deployment for IAF |
| Replacement Timeline | Swapped out once IN20 deliveries stabilize | Final integration engines for handed-over aircraft |
| User Benefit | Prevents delivery bottlenecks, allows pilot/AFTU familiarisation training | Provides the IAF with durable, mission-ready combat assets |
IDN (With Agency Inputs)
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