The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved in August the procurement of 97 additional TEJAS MK-1A fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The ₹66,000-crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to be formalised in October, once HAL delivers the first two aircraft out of the 83 already on order.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the deal to buy 97 more TEJAS MK-1As in August, 2025.

HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil confirmed that the paperwork is being finalised and that the signing of the contract, alongside the $1 billion agreement with GE Aerospace for 113 F404-IN20 jet engines, is targeted for October.

The sequencing reflects the defence ministry’s emphasis on accountability, linking the new order to progress under the ongoing program.

HAL’s production of the TEJAS MK-1A has faced delays primarily due to shortfalls in engine deliveries from GE Aerospace. Of the 99 engines on order for the initial 83 jets contracted in 2021, only three have been handed over so far.

However, supply chain limitations have now eased, with seven more engines arriving by December and 20 more expected in 2026, paving the way for steady fighter rollouts. Assured deliveries from 2027 onwards will further stabilise the program.

The HAL chief disclosed that 10 aircraft have already been completed—two with newly received engines—and 24 additional fuselages are advancing on the production line. With an annual capacity of 24 aircraft, HAL is poised to accelerate deliveries once the first fighter jets enter IAF service.

To validate combat readiness, HAL has initiated critical weapon trials. Two TEJAS MK-1As began live-firing tests of the ASRAAM short-range missile in the eastern sector this week.

These will be followed by Beyond-Visual-Range Astra missile firings, pending software clearance from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). Integration challenges with Astra delayed successful trials earlier, but HAL and the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) now expect full clearance shortly.

HAL emphasised that weapons firing is the ultimate validation of the aircraft system, as it tests critical aspects of integration, aerodynamics, and release mechanisms under high-speed flight conditions. The TEJAS MK-1A will also feature broader integration with indigenous missiles and advanced weapon systems as part of its development roadmap.

Under the 2021 order, 10 trainer variants are being produced in MK-1 configuration. However, the 29 trainers planned under the upcoming deal will be upgraded to MK-1A standard, equipped with Uttam AESA radar and a next-generation electronic warfare suite. This ensures improved combat training platforms with near-operational capability.

Despite IAF concerns over delays—the first deliveries were due in March 2024—HAL projects that once the first few aircraft are handed over in October, production will ramp up rapidly. The successful induction of the MK-1A fleet will be a crucial step towards bridging the IAF’s squadron shortfall and deepening India’s defence indigenisation push.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)