Made In India, Waiting In Line: Tejas Mk1A Production Outpaces Imported Engine Supplies

Around 30 Tejas Mk1A fighters have reportedly been manufactured, flown and tested by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), but are yet to be delivered to the Indian Air Force because they are waiting for their GE F404 engines. In other words, the airframes, systems and flight testing are largely done – the bottleneck now is the imported powerplant. This neatly captures both the progress and the vulnerability of India’s light combat aircraft programme.

The Tejas Mk1A is a significantly upgraded version of the original Tejas Mk1, featuring improved radar, electronic warfare systems, maintenance-friendly design changes and better operational availability. For the IAF, inducting these jets is critical to replace ageing MiG-21s and slowly rebuild squadron strength without waiting for heavier, more expensive platforms.

Production Progress And The Engine Bottleneck

HAL has been ramping up Tejas Mk1A production at its Bengaluru facilities in line with the large IAF order placed in 2021, targeting a steady annual output after an initial ramp-up phase. Airframes, avionics integration and ground trials have progressed to the point where about 30 aircraft are structurally complete and have undergone flight tests with available engines.

However, the final induction schedule is constrained by the delivery pipeline of GE F404 engines from the United States, which power the Mk1 and Mk1A variants. Until fresh engine batches arrive and are integrated, these completed aircraft cannot be handed over in fully operational form, even though much of the testing and quality assurance work on the airframes is already finished.

What This Means For The IAF And HAL

For the IAF, this delay means that badly needed squadrons will take a little longer to stand up, even as older aircraft retire. For HAL and policymakers, it underlines the strategic risk of dependence on imported engines – precisely why the planned Tejas Mk2 and the future AMCA are tied to deeper engine partnerships and eventual domestic capability.

It also places added scrutiny on supply-chain management and contract execution: India can build modern fighters at scale, but as long as the “heart” is foreign, timelines remain partially outside its control.

Sources: India Today, Times of India, The Print, PTI/GE Aerospace releases, Moneycontrol and IDRW