GE engine pact done, HAL to start delivering Tejas Mk1A fighter jets in 24-36 months

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will deliver eight Tejas Mark 1A (Mk1A) fighter planes in the next 24-36 months, according to Moneycontrol.

In later years, production will ramped up to increase annual numbers delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The Government of India has placed two orders with the HAL for Tejas Mk1A, which is a higher variant of Mk1. At least 40 Mk1 have entered service with the IAF.

In the first tranche, the GoI ordered 83 Mk1A in 2021. In the second tranche, the GoI ordered 97 Tejas Mk1A in September. The deliveries for the first tranche were supposed to start last year but the HAL has said it would be able to deliver only six by March 2026 — the HAL should have been nearing the halfway mark by March 2026 as per the original timeline of delivery (2024-28). The deliveries in the second tranche are yet to start.

The HAL has said that the main issue in production and delivery has been problematic procurement of engines from General Electric’s (GE). But engine deliveries are expected to stabilise soon and production is expected to get steady.

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Moneycontrol reported that the HAL signed an agreement to procure 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines for the second tranche of Mk1A fighters on November 7.

The initial delivery cycle will remain modest as HAL stabilises its production line, a senior government source told Moneycontrol.

Cost negotiations had delayed finalisation of the engine contract, the source said.

“HAL and GE had to align on escalating costs before locking the supply roadmap. The first phase is naturally slower. That has pushed the early aircraft deliveries into a eight-unit window over 24–36 months,” the source said.

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Deliveries to take 7 years

The second tranche of 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft will be delivered over the next seven years, according to Moneycontrol.

But considering the first six planes from the first order signed in 2021 are yet to delivered, there are questions whether such an optimistic timeline is feasible.

Internal delivery charts accessed by Moneycontrol have shown that three major tranches of 24 Mk1A planes each will begin rolling out sequentially after months 37, 49, and 61, and a final tranche of 12 planes is scheduled to be delivered by late 2031 through late 2032 — effectively seven years after signign the deal.

“Once the line reaches steady rhythm, three full blocks of 24 jets each will move out almost back-to-back. The final 12-unit batch will close the Mk1A order around the seventh year. After that, deliveries for additional variants can be slotted,” an official told Moneycontrol.

The official further said that engine quantities have been structured keeping lifecycle requirements in mind.

“The engines have a defined shelf life. After that they need replacement, which is why 113 engines have been contracted for now. Further engine orders will be placed as the fleet expands,” the officer added.