HAL has said it has produced three LCA Tejas Mk 1As and that it will produce 12 to be delivered to the Indian Air Force by the end of 2025. (HAL)
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said that it will improve the pace of deliveries of the Tejas Mk 1A light combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 2025, following the resolution of problems with the aircraft's supply line.
Deliveries of the Tejas Mk 1A, an improvement over the baseline Tejas Mk 1, were scheduled to start in 2024. However, Janes previously reported that HAL was unable to deliver aircraft to the IAF due to “disruptions in the supply chain” of the aircraft.
Speaking at a press conference on 11 February, during Aero India 2025, the biennial air show held in Bangalore from 10 to 14 February, D K Sunil, chairperson and managing director (CMD) of HAL, said the company has produced three Mk 1As and has outfitted them with a Category B (Cat B) engine.
An HAL source told Janes that the Cat B engines “used” are General Electric (GE) F404-IN20 engines obtained from other IAF programmes. The engines have the highest thrust rating in the F404 family at 85.08 kN (19,250 lb st).
HAL flew all three Mk 1As on 10 February at Aero India, with the aircraft carrying out a range of manoeuvres. According to the CMD, two more Tejas Mk 1As are in the final stages of production. This is due to assurances from GE that it will supply a first batch of 12 F404-IN20 engines, Sunil said.
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