Tejas Mark-1A Production Set to Accelerate as Indigenous Fighter Jet Receives GE-404 Engine

New Delhi: The production of India’s indigenously developed Tejas Mark-1A fighter jet is set to gather pace with the arrival of the GE-404 jet engine from the United States — the second such engine received from American aerospace giant General Electric for the Tejas Mark-1A programme.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-run aerospace manufacturer tasked with producing the Tejas, is expected to receive a total of 12 GE-404 engines by the end of the current financial year. These engines will power the Tejas Mark-1A jets ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The IAF has placed an order for 83 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft as part of its effort to bolster its aging fleet with homegrown fighter jets. Currently, two squadrons of the earlier Mark-1 variant are operational at Sulur Airbase in Tamil Nadu.

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh had earlier raised concerns over the delay in delivery of the Mark-1A jets, attributing the holdup primarily to the non-availability of engines. HAL also confirmed that engine supply bottlenecks were a key reason behind the delay. With the resumption of engine deliveries, the production and rollout of the Mark-1A variant are now expected to gain momentum.

The Mark-1A is an upgraded version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and plays a critical role in India's push for defence self-reliance under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. The Ministry of Defence envisions the Tejas as a cornerstone of the IAF’s future fleet, with plans to raise additional squadrons based on the aircraft.

The government has already cleared the procurement of 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets, while an additional proposal for 97 more is under active consideration. In total, around 220 Tejas aircraft are expected to be inducted over time, gradually replacing older platforms such as the MiG-21, MiG-29, and Mirage series.

In parallel, the Centre has also approved the development of the Tejas Mark-2 — also known as the Medium Weight Fighter — further advancing the indigenous fighter aircraft programme.

With inputs from IANS