In a bid to speed up the long-awaited induction of the Tejas Mk1A, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Union Ministry of Defence have agreed to provide Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with specific relaxations under the contract. According to sources within the defence and security establishment, the move is designed to cut through procedural hurdles and help kick-start deliveries of the indigenous fighter aircraft early in the next financial year.
Crucially, officials emphasised that there will be no compromise on the aircraft’s “must-have” capabilities. This understanding, first reached in 2016 between the IAF, the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and HAL, continues to guide the programme. While ADA is responsible for the design of the Tejas platform, HAL serves as the manufacturing agency.
Under the revised understanding, the IAF is prepared to accept the aircraft once three critical requirements are fully met: completion of missile firing tests, integration of the radar with the Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, and finalisation of the weapons package. Sources described these elements as “completely essential” and not open to relaxation. Firing trials have already been conducted, and the certification process for these systems is currently underway.
“The IAF has already granted exemptions to HAL to enable faster delivery of the aircraft, 83 of which have been ordered,” a source stated. The force is willing to accept the jets even as other non-critical work, which could take at least another year, continues in parallel.
HAL has maintained that much of the pending work is not linked to manufacturing delays but is instead tied to activities overseen by ADA, including system integrations and certifications. According to officials, several major capabilities are now in the advanced stages of certification and are expected to be completed by April. Following certification, the IAF will conduct acceptance trials, likely to last a few weeks.
The Tejas Mk1A programme itself emerged as an interim solution after a 2016 decision under then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, bridging the gap between earlier Tejas variants and the future Tejas Mk2. While concerns over delivery timelines have persisted since the 2021 contract signing, HAL recently stated that five aircraft are fully ready for delivery, incorporating major contracted capabilities. A comprehensive project review is scheduled for April.
For theLatest news,India Newsand breaking stories from around theworld, visitTimes Nowfor live coverage and in-depth reporting.
Rishabh Madhavendra Pratap is Principal Correspondent for diplomatic, foreign and defence developments at Times Network. With special interest in soci...View More
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
