HAL To Deliver 18 Tejas Mark-1A Jets By Next Year

As the Indian Air Force (IAF) continues to operate with fewer fighter jet squadrons than required, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has requested that Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) meet the delivery schedule of 18 Tejas Mark-1A fighters by March 2025. The HAL plans to build 180 Tejas Mark-1A jets in two tranches during the next ten years. These will help to bridge the current deficit and muster numbers caused by the IAF's phase-out of older jets. The HAL, a Bengaluru-based business in which the MoD owns a controlling share, has failed to deliver a single jet from the first tranche of 83 ordered in February 2021 under a Rs 48,000 crore deal. Deliveries were to begin three years after signing the contract, or in March of this year. In April, the MoD requested that HAL submit a commercial offer to produce 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets in addition to the 83 previously ordered, bringing the total to 180. Tejas Mark-1A flew for the first time in March. "It was a successful sortie with a flying time of 18 minutes," the HAL reported. Following a review meeting, the MoD has directed HAL to meet the delivery target of 18 planes by March 2025. According to sources, HAL is hoping to have its new production line in Nashik operational by November to help shore up the statistics. The HAL experienced some supply chain disturbance, which is being resolved. Suppliers have been tasked with producing jet parts and assemblies. According to sources, the MoD and HAL are serious about fulfilling the contract's aim of 18 planes by March 2025. The criticality of adding more fighter jets arises from the fact that the IAF now has 31 squadrons (16-18 planes each) of fighter jets, compared to the mandated 42, to deal with a collusive two-front threat from Pakistan and China. Over the following year, all (two) squadrons of Soviet-era MiG 21 fighter jets will be retired. The Jaguar, MiG-29, and Mirage 2000 jet fleets, all introduced in stages throughout the 1980s, are set to retire in batches after 2029-30. These four types of jets are around 250 in number and are now functioning on a long life cycle. According to the plan, India will need to develop around 390 fighter jets for the IAF domestically over the next 14-15 years (until 2038-39), beginning this fiscal year. The IAF already has 40 Tejas Mark1 jets. Tejas Mark-1A is the improved version of the aircraft.