Indian Air Force’s Long Wait For Tejas Aircraft Could End By March 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been impatiently waiting for the delivery of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

This two-year wait since February 2024 could end in March 2026, as HAL is ready with five of the first batch of 83 that was ordered by IAF in February 2021.

What is the current update on the Tejas aircraft?

HAL Chairman and Managing Director D K Sunil stated that the five Tejas aircraft, powered by the GE F404 engines are ready for delivery before the end of March 2026, when the financial year would end.

Sunil told reporters that the newly built Tejas aircraft have completed the weapons trials recently and these could be handed over to the IAF at the earliest.

Why has there been a delay in Tejas deliveries?

The delay in the deliveries, originally scheduled for February 2024, was attributed to the supply chain interruptions in the engines, as GE Aerospace faltered on its schedules.

However, the HAL received the first lot of the engines for the Tejas Mk1A aircraft last year, to enable completion of the aircraft assembly at the HAL facility in Bengaluru.

Sunil said HAL would now approach the IAF to accept deliveries of the first five of the 83 Tejas Mk1A jets soon.

What has the IAF’s views been on Tejas delays?

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh has on several occasions openly criticised the delay in Tejas deliveries.

In a candid camera situation during the AeroIndia at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru in February 2025, he was heared hauling up the HAL officials for not readying the aircraft.

His comments indicated that engine delivery delay was not the only reason for HAL defaulting on the schedule, as per the 2021 contract.

Why are the Tejas jets important for the IAF?

Apart from the 83 Tejas Mk1A ordered in 2021, IAF has also signed another deal for 97 more of these aircraft from HAL in mid-2025.

The Tejas aircraft is an impart part of the IAF’s combat fleet and is key to shoring up the falling squadron numbers of India’s air force.

The IAF’s combat strength has fallen to below 30 squadrons following the retirement of the Soviet-era MiG-21s in 2025.

Is the IAF planning on buying more Rafales, meanwhile?

The IAF is now speeding up a tender to buy 114 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation in a bid to catch up on the dwindling numbers of the fighter fleet.

Earlier this month, a key defence procurement panel of the Indian Ministry of Defence had given the go ahead for the additional Rafale procurement.

However, the procurement process is still far away from turning into a contract, as the procedure should follow several more steps before it becomes final and goes to Prme Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security for approval.

What is the status of the existing Tejas squadrons?

At present, the IAF operates two squadrons of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1, again powered by the F404 engines.

Air Chief Marshal Singh had in one of his media interactions mentioned that even the initial 40 aircraft ordered by the IAF has not been delivered by HAL, as a couple of aircraft from that lot was still pending induction.