IAF Chief's Outburst Pushes MoD To Accelerate Tejas Fighter Deliveries
Just two weeks after the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief publicly slammed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) over delays in Tejas Mk1A fighter jet deliveries, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has moved quickly to take corrective action. A high-level committee has now been formed to fast-track a new production roadmap to ensure the 83 ordered Tejas Mk1A fighters are delivered on schedule — or at least, without further delay.
The committee's main recommendation is expected to revolve around leveraging private sector capacity. Several companies already supply components for the Tejas program, including fuselage sections and structural parts. Now, these firms may be handed greater responsibility — potentially running a full-fledged production line of their own.
At the heart of the issue lies a ₹47,000 crore order placed in 2021 for 83 Tejas Mk1A fighters. Deliveries were initially slated to begin in early 2024. However, delays in receiving the U.S.-made GE F404 engines and what the IAF Chief criticized as HAL’s sluggish pace, have led to a year-long delay, severely impacting force readiness and squadron planning.
A few aircraft are finally expected to be delivered in the coming weeks. But the larger challenge remains: how to scale up the production to 24 or more aircraft annually. That’s where the newly formed committee is expected to step in with a detailed implementation strategy.
HAL Chairman and MD, D.K. Sunil, recently stated that he is aiming to boost production to 30 jets per year by 2027. This ambitious target, he clarified, is only achievable by maximizing support from private sector firms already involved in the program.
Currently, private players like Tata, L&T, VEM Technologies, and Dynamatics are already manufacturing fuselage modules and other sub-systems for the Tejas. The new plan may see one of them entrusted with operating a full production line — a landmark development in India’s defence manufacturing history.
Meanwhile, HAL is also seeking clarity on a prospective follow-on order for 97 additional Tejas Mk1A fighters. According to Sunil, a decision could come within the next 3 to 6 months — a move that would offer stability to suppliers and scale to the program.
In parallel, the MoD is expected to resolve the long-pending direction of India’s fifth-generation fighter program, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). An earlier plan envisioned a public-private joint venture with HAL, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and a major private sector partner. That vision, however, has remained on paper for over four years.
With geopolitical pressure mounting, especially as China advances its own stealth fighter deployments, and with the U.S. continuing to offer F-35 Lightning II jets to India, the need for a clear direction on AMCA is more urgent than ever.
The coming months will be critical — both for regaining momentum on Tejas Mk1A deliveries and for launching India’s most ambitious fighter project yet.
Written by Defence Expert
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