At HAL’s assembly hangar in Bengaluru, all of the TEJAS aircraft are presently completed and prepared for delivery. Overall, a number of jets are finished, including five in one hangar and four in another, with one undertaking flying tests.
The absence of engines is the main obstacle causing delivery delays. The delivery date has slipped because HAL is awaiting engine supplies from General Electric (GE).
HAL is currently installing the third engine that recently arrived from GE on an aircraft, but additional engines are still needed.
Dr. Sunil confirmed that the aircraft was ready and said that the only reason for the shortfall is that GE hasn’t been able to deliver the necessary quantity of F404 engines on schedule.
Although GE promised HAL that they would expedite deliveries, the primary reason for the delay in fulfilling their obligations to the Indian Air Force (IAF) is the engine supply delay. Although HAL has committed to delivering 12 jets this fiscal year, it warns that at least 10 jets might still be delivered in the worst-case scenario.
In addition to engine delays, HAL has encountered a few minor technical difficulties, including as software and missile firing problems, which should be fixed this month. Dr. Sunil emphasized that a recent crash in Pokhran was caused by maintenance problems rather than a design mistake; GE offered extra inspections for sections that were challenging to maintain, and safety records are still very good.
For the domestic TEJAS program, reliance on foreign engine supply is viewed as a strategic risk. In order to eliminate such delays in the future, HAL and Indian aerospace authorities stress the necessity of an indigenous jet engine. Despite difficulties with external supplies, HAL is still working to increase production efficiency and fulfill its obligations.
As of right now, TEJAS jets are prepared for flight pending engine arrival. HAL is working closely with GE to ship engines and is working to meet IAF specifications as quickly as feasible. The speed at which the jet engines arrive from the US source continues to affect the delivery schedule. HAL is still dedicated to the initiative and to completing as many deliveries as it can in the near future.
HAL CMD Dr. DK Sunil’s main remarks from his most recent exclusive interview with NDTV.
