The indigenous defence ecosystem in India marked a significant milestone with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s announcement that the first two TEJAS MK-1A variants could be handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the end of September 2025.
These two fighter jets will include full weapons integration, symbolising operational readiness for frontline deployment. Singh stressed that the delivery schedule is closely tied to contractual progress, stating that the next major deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will only be signed once the earlier order for 83 aircraft demonstrates satisfactory delivery, with at least two fully armed units formally handed over to the IAF.
Contractual Milestones And Strategic Imperative
This delivery marks a step forward from the 2016 induction of TEJAS into IAF service, with around 40 aircraft operational in South India across two squadrons. Ten aircraft are currently in final stages of readiness, including two already “engine-ready.” Singh clarified that HAL’s performance will be held accountable through milestone-linked contracts, reflecting the government’s resolve to ensure timely and efficient production.
The Defence Secretary underlined that indigenisation is not only a strategic priority but also an economic imperative. India’s defence preparedness, he argued, must rest on ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance), thereby safeguarding strategic autonomy while strengthening the domestic industrial base.
Capital Expenditure And Indigenisation Drive
Financially, Singh revealed that India’s defence capital expenditure exceeded ₹1.6 lakh crore last year, with 81% of that amount spent within the country itself. This exceeds the government’s benchmark target that at least 75% of all annual capital spending should occur domestically.
He stated that while external collaborations with foreign technology partners remain essential—particularly in complex aerospace domains like jet engines—the priority will be to absorb and deploy technologies within India first.
The recently cleared Cabinet approval for an additional 97 TEJAS Mark 1A fighters worth ₹62,000 crore further demonstrates this approach. Combined with the previous ₹36,500 crore deal for 83 aircraft, this raises the final tally of TEJAS MK-1A aircraft to 180 units, making it the single largest aircraft fleet within the IAF, replacing the ageing MiG-21 series, which is now being phased out after six decades of service.
Significantly, over 65% of TEJAS components are sourced domestically, involving hundreds of small and medium enterprises, thereby dispersing economic opportunities across India’s MSME ecosystem.
Wider Industry Participation And Drone Capability
An important component of Singh’s remarks was his encouragement of private sector involvement in defence manufacturing. He highlighted that public and private industry will be treated at par within defence procurement frameworks, pointing to India’s experience with civilian drone systems, which showed successful outcomes during trials conducted after Operation Sindoor. Several Indian drone platforms have now cleared critical evaluation benchmarks, which Singh described as a “reality check” for the domestic industry and a confidence-building measure for indigenous capability in unmanned warfare systems.
Defence Export Potential And Long-Term Ambitions
The future trajectory of the TEJAS project extends beyond the MK-1A variant. HAL is anticipating follow-on orders for over 200 TEJAS MK-2 jets, which will be a more powerful platform equipped with General Electric’s F414 engines under a co-production agreement, and possibly co-developed with significant technology transfer.
Parallel to this, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, is under advanced developmental planning with collaborations from foreign partners like Safran and GE Aerospace to indigenise advanced 120-kilonewton jet engines. Together, the TEJAS, twin-engine MK-2, and stealth AMCA will form the backbone of the IAF’s indigenous fighter fleet by the mid-2030s.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has further emphasised this as part of India’s global ambitions. Defence exports, which have risen 35 times in the past decade to touch ₹23,622 crore in FY25, are projected to reach ₹50,000 crore by 2029, with the TEJAS serving as one of the flagship platforms for prospective international sales. Countries in Asia, Africa, and even some Western-aligned air forces are seen as potential buyers.
Symbolism And Political Significance
The symbolic weight of the TEJAS program was reinforced when Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself flew a sortie in a dual-seat TEJAS trainer, the first Indian Prime Minister ever to do so. He described the experience as instilling “renewed confidence in India’s indigenous capabilities,” a move aimed not only at showcasing technological progress but also political support for HAL and the broader Make in India initiative.
Conclusion
The handover of the first two TEJAS MK-1A fighters by September 2025 marks a turning point for India’s indigenous aerospace industry and the IAF’s long-term fleet modernisation. By committing over ₹1.1 lakh crore across 180 TEJAS aircraft orders, India is setting up the TEJAS program as its largest-ever indigenous defence aviation project.
Beyond replacing the MiG-21, this signals a structural shift toward domestic self-reliance in high-technology weapon platforms, with equally strong implications for economic multipliers, global exports, and India’s emerging profile as a defence-industrial power. HAL’s performance in timely deliveries and technology absorption will determine whether India can achieve its ambition of becoming not just self-reliant but also a global exporter of frontline combat aircraft in the coming decade.
Based On ET News Report
