Breakthrough for Tejas: Engine Supply Deal Paves Way for New Fighter Jets
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The production of Indian fighter jet Tejas Mark-1A will now accelerate. The American company has started supplying jet engines to India for this fighter aircraft. India received the GE-404 engine for the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-1A on Monday.
According to defense officials, this is the second jet engine received from the American company. Public sector Indian aviation company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is manufacturing Tejas. According to information, HAL is to receive a total of 12 GE-404 engines by the end of this financial year. All these engines will be installed in the Indian fighter aircraft Tejas Mark-1A.
It is worth noting that the Indian Air Force has ordered 83 LCA Mark-1A fighter planes for its fleet. Actually, the Indian Air Force needs new fighter planes. For this, the Air Force has opted for indigenous fighter. Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has also expressed his views on various occasions regarding the delay in the supply of these fighter planes. He acknowledged the delay in the supply of LCA Mark-1A fighter planes and expressed concern about it. It is believed that now new planes will be supplied to the Air Force soon.
It is worth noting that these indigenous fighter aircraft are being made in India itself under Atmanirbhar Bharat. These aircraft are being manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Regarding the delay in the supply of LCA Mark-1A fighter aircraft, HAL had said that they are aware of the concerns of the Air Force. HAL was waiting for the engine. Now the engines have started coming from America. A total of one dozen aviation engines will be available this year (2025-26). In such a situation, the supply of LCA Mark-1A to the Air Force will start soon. The Indian Air Force has ordered 83 Tejas MK-1A to HAL.
HAL says that the supply of these aircraft was delayed due to non-availability of engines from abroad. At a time when the Indian Air Force squadrons are rapidly decreasing, the situation can now improve with the supply of the Mark-1A version of the LCA. This will also have a positive impact on the capability of the Air Force.
In fact, the Defense Ministry is engaged in making the indigenous LCA project the main strength of the Air Force. That is, more and more LCA squadrons will be made available to the Air Force. Currently, the Air Force has two LCA-Tejas (Mark-1) squadrons which have been deployed at Sulur Airbase in Tamil Nadu. The central government has approved a total of 83 aircraft of Mark-1A. Apart from this, a plan has been made for 97 additional aircraft. A total of 220 LCA aircraft will replace the Air Force's MiG-21, MiG-29 and Mirage, which have now become old. Along with this, the government has also approved the Mark-2 version of LCA i.e. Medium Weight Fighter Aircraft.
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