The engine supply bottleneck that has held up the Indian Air Force’s LCA Tejas Mk-1A programme is showing signs of easing, with MoD now confirming that India is expected to receive 12 more GE Aerospace F404 engines by the end of this year.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) currently has 27 Tejas Mk-1A airframes ready, with 10 engines received so far. The remaining airframes have been flown using available test/reserve engines, while work continues on the final integration and validation of the aircraft.
According to top officials of the MoD, GE Aerospace has committed to supplying four engines a month, which would allow the programme to accelerate towards the government’s target of having at least one complete Tejas Mk-1A squadron inducted by the end of 2026.
The development comes as HAL works through the remaining technical issues, particularly those related to the aircraft’s radar and weapons integration. HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K had earlier said that the company had 27 Mk-1A airframes ready, but final deliveries would depend on completing outstanding testing and integration work.
180 Tejas Mk-1A fighters on order
The IAF currently has orders for 180 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft under two contracts.
The first contract, signed in February 2021, covers 83 aircraft. This was followed by a second contract in September 2025 for 97 additional Mk-1A aircraft, comprising 68 fighters and 29 twin-seaters, at a cost of over Rs 62,370 crore, excluding taxes. The Ministry of Defence said deliveries under the second contract are scheduled to begin in 2027-28 and be completed over six years.
The second order also incorporates additional indigenous systems. According to the MoD, the aircraft will have more than 64% indigenous content, with 67 additional items compared with the earlier Mk-1A contract. The configuration includes systems such as the indigenous UTTAM AESA radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach and indigenous control-surface actuators.
113 more GE engines for the second order
Separately, HAL entered into an agreement with GE Aerospace in November 2025 for the supply of 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines and associated support packages for the 97-aircraft programme. The Ministry of Defence has stated that these engines are scheduled to be delivered between 2027 and 2032.
Production push
HAL has been expanding its production infrastructure to support the Mk-1A programme, with the company targeting an annual production rate of around 24 aircraft.
The immediate priority, however, is to clear the remaining integration and testing issues and ensure a steady flow of GE engines. With 27 airframes already prepared, the availability of engines and completion of radar and weapons validation will determine the pace at which these aircraft can move towards operational induction.
The government is now working towards building up the Mk-1A fleet through the combined 83-aircraft and 97-aircraft orders, with the second batch scheduled to be delivered progressively through 2033.
