New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is likely to get delivery of up to 24 Tejas-Mk1A fighter aircraft this year, even as the defence ministry is considering imposing penalties on the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the delays. At a review meeting of HAL and the Tejas programme, chaired by the defence minister, Rajnath Singh, on Monday, HAL informed that it would be able to make deliveries of the long-delayed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to the IAF.
HAL’s confidence comes from overcoming the supply issues of General Electric’s F-414 engines from the United States – a cause for the delay in delivering the first set of LCA aircraft early last year. HAL told the meeting that six of the 83 Tejas-Mk1A jets were now ready for IAF inspection, and the remaining 18 aircraft would be ready by the end of 2026.
To achieve the delivery, HAL must go through a strict air staff qualitative requirements (ASQRs) that the IAF had set when it ordered the 83 aircraft in February 2021. The IAF has been insisting since 2025 that it would not compromise on some of the hi-tech ASQRs for the Tejas, which the service say are prerequisites for the aircraft’s operational readiness.
According to defence ministry officials, during the meeting, the IAF said HAL had achieved several technological milestones in the Tejas-Mk1A programme. However, some of the critical technologies and capabilities in the aircraft remained unachieved. The IAF expressed the hope that the remaining shortcomings would be addressed this year when the 24 aircraft are ready for delivery.
Penalties on HAL for delays
According to officials, the defence ministry was considering imposing financial penalties on HAL for the delays, said to be over a year now, if the first six aircraft are delivered in the next few months. Officials did not disclose the quantum of the fines planned. The review meeting directed HAL to fulfil its commitments on the technology integration on the Tejas Mk1A jets, and to strictly adhere to the revised delivery timelines.
The IAF has cumulatively ordered 180 Tejas-Mk1A jets from HAL in two separate contracts. The first deal for 83 aircraft worth ₹46,898 crore was signed in February 2021. A follow-on contract for 97 aircraft worth ₹62,379 crore was also signed in September 2025. This 180-aircraft Tejas-Mk1A fleet, including 20-odd trainers, would be enough for the IAF to raise at least 10 additional Tejas squadrons, dovetailing the already existing two Mk1 squadrons, both based at Sulur, near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
HAL currently can manufacture 24 Tejas aircraft a year at its facilities in Bengaluru and Nasik. The original production capacity for eight Tejas aircraft was ramped up in phases over the last five years to reach the 24-jet production lines. At the present rate of production, HAL would take about seven years to complete the 180-jet contracts by 2033.
The Tejas fleet is the key for the IAF to shore up its dwindling fighter squadron numbers, which went down to below 30 units against the sanctioned 42.5 squadrons after the retirement of the Soviet-era MiG-21s two years ago. Tejas is a 4.5-generation fighter aircraft, designed for air-to-air and ground attacks, maritime strike, and close air support missions. Tejas would be the primary combat element of the IAF for India’s peninsular defence.