Imagine you own a company which has got an order book brimming with fighter jets, the Indian Air Force waiting anxiously, and a national spotlight on you. But then, the one thing you cannot control—engines from abroad—slows the whole show. That’s HAL’s current reality with the Tejas Mk1A programme.
Last week, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited received its third GE-404 engine from the US for Tejas Mk1A. The fourth is due by September-end, and twelve engines are expected this fiscal. Sounds like a small delivery update, but it is actually a crucial link in India’s air power puzzle.
Why is this delay hurting
The Indian Air Force today has 31 active fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42. Older MiG-21s are retiring fast. Each delayed Tejas Mk1A delivery pushes IAF further into a crunch. HAL has a firm order for 83 Mk1As (worth about Rs 48,000 crore), signed in 2021, and a follow-on order for 97 more is on the table. Two jets are slated for delivery in October now that engines have started trickling in.
HAL’s balancing act
HAL’s plan is ambitious. Ramp up Tejas Mk1A production from the current 8 jets a year to 16 by 2025 and 30 per year by 2026–27. This requires not only timely engine supply but also coordination with multiple suppliers. The delay wasn’t entirely HAL’s fault – even a South Korean vendor’s delay in delivering small but critical parts pushed schedules back.
Meanwhile, the Tejas Mk2, powered by the GE-F414 engine, is already on the horizon with rollout expected by 2027–28. HAL also has ongoing contracts for Su-30MKI upgrades, trainer aircraft, and helicopter platforms. Its order book exceeds Rs 80,000 crore, giving it a rare position of strength in India’s defence manufacturing space.
Strategic signals
For investors and defence watchers, this is more than a production hiccup. It highlights India’s dependence on imported engines despite decades of talk around indigenous powerplants. The Kaveri project still remains incomplete, forcing HAL to rely on US engines for Tejas. On the other hand, these delays also show how global supply chains directly shape India’s defence timelines.
Conclusion
HAL is walking a tightrope – one foot on delivering Mk1As quickly to fill IAF’s falling squadron strength, the other on developing future fighters like Mk2. The arrival of the third GE-404 engine is a small but positive step. If supply lines stay steady, 2026 could finally see the IAF flying Tejas Mk1As in meaningful numbers, not just as prototypes. In defence manufacturing, execution is as strategic as innovation. HAL now has to prove it can do both.
Disclaimer
This blog is purely for educational purposes and should not be considered investment advice. Please do your own research or consult a registered financial advisor before making any investment decisions.