By the end of July 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s recently opened Nashik production plant is expected to produce the first HAL TEJAS MK-1A fighter jet, marking a major advancement in India’s domestic defense manufacturing capacity. The aircraft is already in final assembly and testing, according to HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil, and the deployment is anticipated to take place within the month.
In addition to the two lines already in place in Bangalore, the Nashik plant serves as HAL’s third production line for the TEJAS program. In its first year of operation, this new plant is anticipated to produce three to four aircraft, eventually supporting an annual output of eight units. In order to reach HAL’s ambitious goal of producing 30 TEJAS aircraft a year by 2026–2027, the expansion is essential.
HAL has intentionally used collaborations in the commercial sector to reach this production size. Important parts have been contracted out to Indian companies by the corporation, such as Larsen & Toubro for wing fabrication, Alpha for rear fuselage manufacture, and VEM Technologies for center fuselage production. It is anticipated that this private-sector supply chain will increase the total production capacity by six airplanes annually.
General Electric engine supply problems caused major delays in the TEJAS MK-1A development. A $716 million deal for 99 GE F404-IN20 engines was signed by India in 2021; however, supply chain interruptions, notably the failure of a South Korean component supplier, caused deliveries to be postponed until March 2025. The fact that GE had shut down its F404 production line in 2016 after finishing a prior order of 65 engines and that it was difficult to resume production after five years of dormancy added to the delay.
After an almost two-year delay, the first F404-IN20 engine was ultimately delivered on March 25, 2025. By the end of 2025, GE Aerospace has promised to supply 12 engines, and by 2027, it intends to increase output to 24 engines per year. HAL’s objective of delivering 12 TEJAS MK-1A units during the current fiscal year depends on this engine supply.
Early August 2025 is when HAL plans to integrate and test-fire the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, which was developed by the DRDO. India’s domestic weapons capabilities have advanced significantly with the introduction of the Astra missile, which has already been successfully integrated with the Su-30MKI fleet. The missile has sophisticated guidance systems with active radar homing capabilities and has a range of more than 100 kilometers.
The weapon’s interoperability with the platform was shown in March 2025 when the Astra missile was successfully tested from a TEJAS Mk1 prototype. With every subsystem operating precisely and fulfilling mission requirements, the missile struck an aerial target directly. Since the TEJAS MK-1A will carry a variety of weapons, including the Astra BVRAAM and close-combat missiles like the R-73, Python-5, and ASRAAM, this integration is essential to the aircraft’s multi-role capabilities.
The choice of radar system for the TEJAS MK-1A program has generated a lot of debate. Instead of using the domestic Uttam AESA radar created by DRDO, HAL has chosen to outfit all 83 aircraft with the Israeli ELTA Systems’ EL/M-2052 AESA radar. This decision rescinds HAL’s previous pledge to incorporate the Uttam radar beginning with the 41st aircraft.
HAL stated that the main justification for selecting the foreign system was the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification’s (CEMILAC) certification delays. DRDO officials, however, dispute this theory, claiming that the Uttam AESA radar received production approval in 2023. The Uttam radar, which has 912 transmit/receive modules and can track more than 50 objects at once at ranges greater than 100 kilometers, has undergone more than 230 hours of airborne testing by DRDO.
The dispute demonstrates the conflict between the practical demands of fulfilling delivery deadlines and India’s aspirations for indigenization under the Atmanirbhar Bharat plan. Reliance on foreign technology results in dependency on external supply chains and source code access, even if the EL/M-2052 is a tested system with combat experience.
HAL is currently in a position to speed up the manufacturing of TEJAS MK-1A, notwithstanding the early setbacks. The Indian Air Force must approve additional orders for 97 aircraft beyond the present 83-plane contract before the company can begin producing 24 aircraft a year in 2027. This would greatly increase India’s domestic fighter fleet, bringing the total number of TEJAS MK-1A orders to 180 aircraft.
For the Indian Air Force, which presently only has 31 combat squadrons out of an officially authorized 42 squadrons, the production ramp-up is essential. With its upgraded radar systems, larger weaponry, and sophisticated avionics, the TEJAS MK-1A is intended to replace aging MiG-21 aircraft and boost the IAF’s operational capabilities.
HAL Chairman DK Sunil has recognized that legacy design dependencies and aviation staff qualitative requirements (ASQRs) present difficulties for the TEJAS program. He stressed that “parallel efforts are underway to close these issues across multiple aircraft” and ascribed certain delays to reliance on partner organizations like the DRDO and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
The intricacy of combining several systems from various agencies has necessitated meticulous standardization and cooperation. To overcome these obstacles while upholding certification criteria and quality standards, HAL has put systematic ways into place.
More than just a production milestone, the TEJAS MK-1A deployment from Nashik signifies India’s expanding capacity for high-tech aerospace manufacturing. The initiative promotes the development of domestic technology while showcasing effective cooperation between public sector businesses, private sector partners, and foreign suppliers.
The Nashik facility’s success could act as a template for upcoming defense manufacturing initiatives, demonstrating how strategic alliances and incremental production growth can boost domestic capabilities. The TEJAS MK-1A program is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the modernization of India’s air force and the advancement of the nation’s defense manufacturing ecosystem once engine supply problems have been resolved and a strong production infrastructure has been established.
With a strong emphasis on domestic capacity and independence, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has outlined an ambitious and forward-looking plan for modernizing its fighter fleet. The projected introduction of 352 TEJAS aircraft, including the MK-1A and MK-2 models, lies at the heart of this vision. This program demonstrates the IAF’s dedication to fostering the homegrown aerospace sector and lowering reliance on foreign platforms.
With all 12 TEJAS MK-1A aircraft scheduled for induction this year, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the principal TEJAS manufacturer, is unwavering in its delivery timetable. This milestone is a result of better supply chain coordination, especially with engine supplies, which should stabilize in the next fiscal year.
HAL is prepared to greatly increase its production capacity in the future. By 2026–2027, full-scale production is expected to achieve an astounding 30 aircraft annually by utilizing resources from the public and commercial sectors. Meeting the IAF’s operational needs and guaranteeing the timely fulfillment of the TEJAS MK-1A program commitments depend on this expansion.
While the upcoming Mk2 variant is anticipated to have even higher capabilities, including as increased payload and range, the MK-1A variant, with its sophisticated avionics, expanded survivability features, and improved maintainability, marks a significant upgrade over the earlier variants.
For the IAF, the introduction of these aircraft represents both a quantitative and qualitative advancement, in line with the larger goals of the “Make in India” campaign. It will strengthen India’s air combat capabilities, give it a technological advantage in the area, and boost the country’s defense manufacturing sector.
The TEJAS induction serves as the cornerstone of the IAF’s future plans, which indicate a clear shift in the next ten years toward modernization, indigenization, and improved operational preparedness.
As HAL gets ready for the momentous launch this month, the TEJAS MK-1A program embodies the successes and difficulties of India’s aspirations for domestic defense manufacture. Another important milestone in showcasing the aircraft’s operational capabilities and strengthening India’s standing as a competent defense producer will be reached in August with the successful integration of the Astra missile.
