India's Tejas Mk-1A Fighter Program Targets 100 Aircraft by 2027

India is accelerating its indigenous Tejas Mk‑1A fighter programme, aiming to deliver its first complete squadron of 18‑20 aircraft by March 2027. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) plans to equip the squadron with the GE F404‑IN20 engine, whose arrivals have been the main bottleneck.

The broader programme expects to reach the 100‑aircraft production milestone by mid‑to‑late 2027, expanding HAL’s three‑line manufacturing capacity in Bengaluru and Nashik and adding a fourth line through private partners. Successful delivery would strengthen the Indian Air Force’s front‑line fleet and reduce reliance on aging platforms.