Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is on the threshold of a significant milestone with the planned delivery of the first two TEJAS MK-1A fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by October 2025. 

According to company officials, these two aircraft have already been fully assembled and are currently undergoing critical firing trials, which are expected to conclude within this month, paving the way for their formal induction into the Air Force.

While this marks an important step forward in India’s combat aircraft manufacturing capability, the broader delivery schedule for the full order of 83 TEJAS MK-1A fighters has encountered a substantial setback of nearly four quarters.

The delay stems primarily from disruptions in the supply of engines from General Electric (GE), the American company manufacturing the F404-IN20 power plant for the aircraft.

As per the original timeline, HAL was expecting to receive 12 F404-IN20 engines from GE by the end of 2025 to sustain assembly-line production. However, only two engines have been delivered so far, with subsequent consignments that were due in August failing to materialise.

This shortfall has resulted in uncertainty about the delivery schedule for the remaining aircraft, as engine availability is critical to production continuity. HAL officials have indicated that they are in constant discussion with GE regarding the supply chain, but there is still no concrete clarity on when the pending deliveries will resume at full scale.

The F404-IN20 is an advanced derivative of the proven GE F404 family, tailor-made for the TEJAS MK-1A, while the upcoming TEJAS MK-2 variant is expected to feature the more powerful GE F414 engine that will offer enhanced thrust and performance parameters.

The original contract for 83 TEJAS MK-1A fighters, signed in 2021 at a valuation of approximately ₹46,898 crore, envisioned deliveries to be completed within six years. During Aero India 2025, HAL had optimistically projected completion by mid-2028. However, with the current disruption in supply schedules, the timeline has now slipped by at least one year, pushing completion towards 2029 or beyond.

This delay presents a pressing challenge for the Indian Air Force, which is already facing dwindling squadron strength. The sanctioned requirement for the IAF is 42 fighter squadrons, a figure derived from the strategic necessity of being combat-ready for a potential two-front conflict involving both China and Pakistan.

Presently, the IAF is operating with only 31 squadrons, and with the impending retirement of two MiG-21 squadrons on September 26, this number will further diminish to just 29—creating a peak shortfall in operational combat assets.

The TEJAS MK-1A program was expected to be a vital step in bridging this gap, providing a modernised indigenous fighter with improved avionics, better radar, enhanced maintainability, and advanced weapons capability to support frontline operations.

The delay in deliveries could complicate the IAF’s modernisation roadmap, forcing the service to depend more heavily on its existing fleet of Su-30MKIs, Rafales, and upgraded Mirage-2000s until new inductions stabilise.

This also places additional urgency on finalising timelines for the TEJAS MK-2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programs, which are crucial for India’s long-term air power projection and indigenous aerospace defence ambitions.

In strategic terms, the delay underscores the vulnerability of relying on critical foreign-sourced components for indigenous defence platforms. While HAL has made substantial progress in integrating domestic supply chains for avionics, structures, and systems, the dependence on imported propulsion systems continues to pose significant risks.

The current setbacks with GE’s F404 supply highlight the need for India to push forward with its indigenous engine development programs such as the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) projects, or to deepen technology transfer agreements with foreign partners. Until such measures materialise, the induction of combat aircraft like the TEJAS MK-1A will remain tied to the uncertainties of global supply chains.

Ultimately, while the induction of the first two TEJAS MK-1A aircraft next month will mark an important symbolic and operational milestone for the IAF, the broader program delays represent a sobering reminder of the challenges facing India’s defence modernisation path.

The gap between sanctioned fighter strength and operational availability continues to widen, underlining the urgency for both HAL and the IAF to synergise efforts, diversify procurement strategies, and accelerate indigenous capability development to meet the nation’s evolving security challenges.

Based On A News18 Report