To overcome continuous delays, the Indian government is thinking of bringing the private sector into the TEJAS fighter jet’s manufacturing. To find ways to address the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) pressing needs and speed up production, a high-level group headed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has been established.
Finding TEJAS program bottlenecks and suggesting ways to improve production efficiency are among the committee’s main goals.
Outsourcing certain of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) facilities, like the Nashik factory, to private businesses is one possible remedy under consideration. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat plan, this action seeks to increase India’s defense independence, increase manufacturing capacity, and lessen dependency on imports.
Only 31 of the IAF’s 42 needed fighter jet squadrons are now in service, indicating a severe fighter jet deficit. Modernizing the IAF’s fleet requires the TEJAS MK-1A, a sophisticated version of the domestic TEJAS.
However, an extra order for 97 TEJAS MK-1A jets is still outstanding, and HAL is having trouble meeting the manufacturing requirements for the 83 contracted jets. The
In addition to having an effect on India’s fighter aircraft sector, this strategic choice would also affect the security dynamics in the region with China and Pakistan as neighbors. The group has been given a month to present its findings, which should provide a clear roadmap for increasing private sector involvement in fighter jet production.
To fill the gaps and replace aging fleets, India urgently needs to manufacture 35–40 fighter jets a year, according to Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. Aircraft such as the Jaguar, MiG-29, and Mirage-2000 are scheduled to be phased out in the upcoming years, which is the driving force behind this request. Speaking at a function in Delhi, Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasized that building two squadrons a year would need producing 35–40 aircraft annually, which is not a capacity that can be achieved quickly.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is currently the primary supplier of domestic TEJAS MK-1A aircraft to the IAF. Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasized the significance of private sector involvement in order to meet the necessary numbers, even though HAL has committed to build 24 planes next year. He said that the private sector could contribute an extra 12–18 jets annually, citing the successful partnership between TATA and Airbus on the C-295 transport aircraft as an example.
A major worry has been the TEJAS MK-1A’s sluggish production, which has caused HAL to have delays in delivering the 83 aircraft that were contracted. As a result, the Ministry of Defense established a powerful committee to investigate ways to speed up fighter aircraft production, including greater private sector participation.
Air Chief Marshal Singh sees an automated and technologically sophisticated Air Force in 2047. There are currently 31 fighter squadrons in the IAF, which is less than the 42 needed to combat Pakistani and Chinese threats. Increasing fighter jet manufacturing is still a top objective for India’s air defense readiness because the Jaguar, MiG-29, and Mirage-2000 fleets will soon retire about 250 aircraft.
