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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a fresh agreement with the US-based General Electric (GE) for the supply of 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines and associated support packages to power 97 additional Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A fighters.
The deal, inked on Friday, marks a crucial milestone for India’s indigenous fighter programme, even as production delays continue to raise concern within the Indian Air Force (IAF) and among prospective export customers.
Under the new contract, GE will deliver the engines between 2027 and 2032, aligning with HAL’s production plan for the expanded Tejas Mk1A order, which the Defence Ministry approved in September 2025. Valued at over Rs 62,000 crore, the additional order will take the IAF’s total planned Tejas fleet to 352 aircraft.
The latest agreement builds on HAL’s 2021 contract for 99 F404 engines, worth approximately $716 million. GE Aerospace has so far supplied four of those engines. However, global supply chain disruptions, including the shutdown of a key South Korean component supplier, have delayed the original delivery schedule.
Production Progress but Persistent Delays Frustrates IAF
HAL has reported that production at its Bengaluru facility is accelerating and anticipates achieving an output of 30 aircraft annually by 2026-27. However, although engine supply has resumed, delays in assembly, testing, and certification have pushed the first aircraft handover deadline to March 2026, a target that the Indian Air Force (IAF) questions will be met.
Senior officials have voiced frustration at the repeated extensions to the Tejas Mk1A delivery schedule. The first two aircraft, initially promised for October 2025, are now expected at the earliest next year. According to sources, integration of mission systems and the lengthy certification process by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) could take at least another six months, risking further slippage.
“The engines are here, but the aircraft are not ready,” said an IAF officer familiar with the project. “With fighter squadron numbers already down to 29, every delay affects operational readiness.”
Export Hopes Under Strain
The delays are also dampening India’s efforts to export the Tejas, which has attracted interest from countries such as the Philippines, Egypt, and several African nations. Many potential customers are reportedly waiting for the IAF’s first operational induction before committing to purchases.
“Foreign air forces want to see sustained production and delivery before signing contracts,” said a defence industry executive. “Any further slippage could drive them toward alternatives like South Korea’s FA-50 or Sweden’s Gripen C.”
Analysts warn that missed timelines could undermine India’s credibility as a dependable defence supplier at a time when the government is pushing hard under the Make in India initiative to position the Tejas as a viable export platform.
HAL Remains Confident
HAL maintains that it remains firmly on track to meet the revised schedule. The company has expanded its supplier base, completed multiple flight test rounds, and claims its production facilities are operating at full capacity. Officials say the first batch of Tejas Mk1A jets is expected to roll out in 2026, with production increasing steadily thereafter.
The Tejas Mk1A introduces several upgrades over the baseline Mk1, including an advanced AESA radar, a modern electronic warfare suite, and improved maintainability. However, as industry observers point out, it is timely execution, not technology, that will ultimately determine whether India’s indigenous fighter programme achieves both domestic and international success.
Huma Siddiqui
