The Indian Air Force is expected to begin the induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk-1A within the next one to two months, according to Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit. The latest update indicates that the fighter programme has moved into the final testing phase after earlier delays related to engine availability.
Speaking on Tuesday, Air Marshal Dixit said the initial delay was linked to insufficient availability of engines. The required engines have now been received and installed on the aircraft, allowing Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air Force to proceed with detailed testing before the aircraft is formally inducted.
According to the Vice Chief, only two or three technical points remain to be proven before the aircraft can enter service. He said thorough testing is currently being carried out to ensure that the remaining requirements are satisfactorily completed. The IAF is awaiting the aircraft and expects the outstanding technical issues to be addressed within the next month or two.
The development follows earlier comments from HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K, who said that the company had made progress on Tejas Mk-1A production but was still dealing with testing and software integration issues. HAL has also reported progress on radar and weapons integration, with the final stages requiring additional flight testing and software validation.
HAL has built multiple Tejas Mk-1A airframes, with recent reports indicating that around 27 to 30 aircraft have been completed, flown or are at advanced stages of testing. The company has also received production-standard GE F404-IN20 engines, helping address one of the major constraints that had affected the programme’s delivery schedule.
The Tejas Mk-1A is an upgraded version of the indigenous Tejas fighter and incorporates improvements in areas including radar, electronic warfare, avionics and weapons integration. The Indian Air Force has contracted for 180 Mk-1A aircraft through two orders, comprising the original 83-aircraft contract and a subsequent order for 97 aircraft.
The first batch of aircraft is now moving closer to formal induction, subject to successful completion of the remaining testing and technical clearances. The expected timeline of one to two months marks the latest indication from the IAF regarding when the Tejas Mk-1A could officially enter service.