Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has confirmed that at least six Tejas Mk-1A multirole fighter jets will be delivered to the Indian Air Force by March next year, helping ease concerns over recent delays in the program.
Under a contract signed in 2021, HAL is set to supply 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets, with production targets of 16 to 24 aircraft per year starting from June 2025. The company cited delays in engine shipments from U.S.-based GE Aerospace—affected by pandemic-related workforce disruptions—as the reason for earlier setbacks.
The issue has since been resolved, and GE Aerospace is expected to deliver 12 F404 engines by March 2026. HAL stated that six aircraft are already ready for handover.
In parallel with the current order, India is preparing to procure an additional 97 Tejas aircraft over the next decade, which will replace aging MiG-21 fighters in the Air Force’s fleet.
