India's Tejas Mk1A Fighter Receives Engines, Radar Integration Hurdles

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has taken delivery of several GE F404‑IN20 engines, restoring the supply chain that had delayed the Tejas Mk1A programme. With production‑standard engines now arriving, HAL expects to hand over the first full Mk1A squadron to the Indian Air Force by the end of the financial year, targeting March 2027.

HAL says 20 aircraft have already been built and flight‑tested and are awaiting engine fit‑check and delivery. However, integration of the Israeli EL/M‑2052 active electronically‑scanned array radar and the associated electronic‑warfare suite remains pending, causing further schedule risk. The original indigenous Uttam radar was dropped after technical setbacks.

To meet the IAF’s order of 180 Mk1A fighters—valued at roughly $6.5‑7.5 billion—HAL has expanded its production capacity to 24‑30 aircraft per year across three assembly lines in Bengaluru and Nashik. The company is also preparing to start production of 12 additional Su‑30MKI fighters for the IAF in the 2028‑29 financial year.