New Delhi, June 8: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is facing a shortfall in fighter squadrons, leading to a contract with HAL for a total of 180 LCA Tejas Mark-1A aircraft. However, not a single aircraft has been delivered to date, with HAL repeatedly missing deadlines.
Sources indicate that HAL may present a review meeting to the IAF this June, following improvements in radar performance and other technical issues. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has periodically reviewed HAL’s projects, and a meeting was held on Monday to assess the progress of HAL’s projects. This review meeting was attended by the Defense Secretary, CDS, IAF Chief, CMD of HAL, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Defense.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has publicly expressed frustration over the ongoing delays in aircraft delivery. The Ministry of Defense is preparing to impose penalties on HAL for these delays, as confirmed by a senior official. Similarly, HAL has mentioned the possibility of penalizing the American company GE for delays in engine deliveries.
A senior official from the Ministry of Defense has expressed hope that deliveries of the Tejas Mark-1A may begin this year. Currently, HAL has six engines available, and the structures for approximately 18 aircraft are ready. By the end of the year, around 24 aircraft are expected to be completed. However, the IAF has yet to receive any Tejas Mark-1A aircraft.
A review meeting regarding the Tejas Mark-1A program is scheduled for this month. This meeting was initially planned for May but was postponed. HAL’s new CMD, Ravi Kotha, has also met with the IAF Chief.
The IAF has indicated that it may consider providing immediate relief to HAL in certain areas, but there will be no compromise on the technical standards deemed ‘non-negotiable.’ According to defense officials, if there are temporary deficiencies in the contract standards—such as a technology that can currently operate manually instead of fully automatically—the IAF may consider these.
The Tejas program has progressed relatively slowly, primarily due to delays in engine deliveries. However, engines have started to arrive gradually. The engine deal for the Tejas Mark-1A program was signed with General Electric (GE) in 2021, under which India is set to receive a total of 99 F404 engines.
The IAF Chief has previously expressed dissatisfaction over delays in fighter jet deliveries. The Tejas has several variants, including Tejas Mark-1, Tejas Mark-1A, Tejas Trainer Aircraft, and the upcoming Tejas Mark-2, which is currently under development.
In terms of current security needs, the IAF requires 42 fighter squadrons, while it currently has only 29. The Tejas program is expected to address this shortfall. The IAF has already inducted 40 Tejas aircraft into its fleet.
A deal for 83 LCA Tejas Mark-1A aircraft has been finalized with HAL, but deliveries have yet to commence. These 83 aircraft will form four fighter squadrons, and approval has also been granted for the purchase of 97 additional Tejas Mark-1A aircraft for five more squadrons.
Out of a total of 11 squadrons of Tejas, two have already been inducted into the IAF, while nine squadrons are yet to be included.
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