The TEJAS fighter aircraft’s delayed delivery into service was brought to the attention of Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who also called for more funding for research and development (R&D) and a greater private partnership in the development of defense products.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh recently spoke at the 21st Subroto Mukherjee Seminar on ‘Atmanirbharta in Aerospace: Way Ahead’. He discussed the importance of research and development and how it “loses its relevance if it is not able to meet the timeline.” Additionally, Air Chief Marshal Singh drew attention to the Indian Air Force’s delayed delivery of the first batch of TEJAS fighter jets.
“Capacity building is important, we may not need it every time but we need to be flexible and production agencies have to invest in their advanced manufacturing processes to increase speed and upskill their manpower,” Air Chief Marshal Singh stated during the seminar.
“In 2016, we began introducing TEJAS.We should go back to the project’s inception in 1984. In 2001, seventeen years later, the plane took off. The induction then began in 2016, sixteen years later. In 2024, I (Indian Air Force) do not currently possess the first 40 aircraft.This is the capacity for production. We must take action, and I firmly believe that competition and a variety of sources are necessary to ensure that people are
In order to replace the fleet of MiG-21 and Su-7 aircraft, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program was conceived in the late 1980s. A major milestone in the history of the Indian Air Force was reached on January 4, 2001, when the Technology Demonstrator-1 (TD-1) version of the LCA was launched and renamed ‘TEJAS.’ The program received a boost in the late 1990s.
In 2016, the first operational clearance was granted for the Second Series Production (SP2) TEJAS aircraft. ‘The Flying Daggers’, the Air Force’s No. 45 Squadron, received the TEJAS MK-1 version. The Mk1 variant was later used by the No. 18 Squadron, also known as “The Flying Bullets,” another TEJAS unit.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), based in Bangalore, is the manufacturer of the TEJAS fighter jet.
“R&D loses its relevance if it is not able to meet the timeline,” ACM AP Singh emphasized, underscoring the significance of private players in defense manufacturing and production. Time is a critical factor. We must allow the researchers more freedom. Failures are inevitable, so we shouldn’t be afraid of them. I believe that our fear of failing is causing us to lose a lot of time.In the defense industry, time is of the essence. Technology will be useless if we fail to meet the deadline. Therefore, we must grow from our mistakes, move on, and stop being afraid of them.
“R&D funding is dreadfully inadequate. It should be at 15% (of the total), but we are only at about 5%.
The ‘year of reforms’ is 2025, according to the Ministry of Defense. The goal is to “aim to further bolster Jointness & Integration initiatives and facilitate the establishment of the Integrated Theatre Commands.”
“Acquisition procedures need to be made simpler and time-sensitive to facilitate swifter and robust capability development.”
“Facilitate technology transfer and knowledge sharing between the defence sector and civil industries, promoting public-private partnerships by improving ease of doing business.” “Position India as a credible exporter of defence products, fostering R&D and partnerships between Indian industries and foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers for knowledge sharing & resource integration,” are just a few of the targeted interventions.
In a ₹36,468 crore agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Indian Air Force has placed orders for 83 TEJAS MK-1A variants. The project to purchase 97 additional TEJAS aircraft for the Indian Air Force was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in November of last year. The F404 fighter jet engines, manufactured in the United States by General Electric, will power the TEJAS fighter jets.
On March 28 of last year, the TEJAS MK-1A variant, the upgraded MK1 that is currently in service in two squadrons, made a historic test flight.
The first squadron of the domestic TEJAS MK-1A fighter aircraft will be raised by the air force at the Nal air base in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, close to the Pakistani border. The TEJAS is going to take the place of
According to a Times of India report from October of last year, the HAL will only be able to deliver two to three TEJAS MK-1A instead of the sixteen that were promised to the IAF in the 2024–2025 fiscal year as part of the agreement to purchase 83 of these fighter jets. The new variants are anticipated to be delivered by July.
During their visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh brought attention to the 99 GE F404 engines that were already two years behind schedule. GE has committed to starting supply by March 2025.
According to a Financial Express report, GE Aerospace has been subject to fines from the Center for the two-year agreement. March was the initial delivery date for the engines.
Financial Express quoted GE Aerospace as saying, “We are working with our partner HAL and suppliers to resolve constraints and deliver F404-IN20 engines for the TEJAS MK-1 program.”
Since its first flight in 2001, TEJAS has demonstrated an unwavering safety record and is among the best multi-role fighters of its weight and class. Ground attack, interception, air-to-air combat, and air defense are just a few of the many uses for the 4.5 generation aircraft. Nigeria, the Philippines, Argentina, and Egypt have expressed interest in acquiring TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft, which are developed domestically.
The Indian Air Force is authorized to have 42 squadrons, but at the moment, only 31 are in operation. Usually, a fighter squadron consists of 18 aircraft, including two trainers.
Defense’s ‘Demand for Grants 2024-2025’ report noted the air force’s fighter aircraft shortage and stated that the IAF currently requires at least 180 fighter jets. Following the phase-out of the aging MiG-21, which has been in service since 1963 and has undergone numerous overhauls over the past 60 years, the strength may further deteriorate. Other aircraft purchased in the 1980s include the Mirage-2000s, SEPECAT Jaguars, and MiG-29s.
In the long term, the timely introduction of TEJAS MK-2 and Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) will address this (falling squadron strength). According to an IAF representative quoted by PTI, “Airborne early warning aircraft, flight refuelers, and special electronic intelligence and surveillance are critical combat enablers that are an integral element of modern-day combat.”
The delivery of light combat aircraft from HAL has been significantly delayed, according to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence. The Committee suggested that the government look into counter-purchasing fifth-generation fighter aircraft if there are delays in the domestic production of multirole fighter aircraft.
