Even as the Indian Air Force is awaiting the delivery of light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to begin trials of the fighter jet, involving testing of Astra beyond-visual-range missile, indigenous electronic warfare suite and the Elta radar, procured from Israel.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the trials will start in January 2025, while the IAF is expected to get the delivery of the first LCA Tejas Mk-1A by March 31. Tejas M-1A variant is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art modern 4+ generation fighter aircraft.
“The upcoming Astra missile firing, the electronic warfare suite testing and the ongoing software updates on the new systems are the final processes before HAL can deliver the first LCA Mk1A to the IAF," an official has been quoted as saying.
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There has been an inordinate delay in the delivery of Tejas Mk1A, an advanced variant of LCA Tejas Mk1, especially due to the failure of GE Aerospace to supply the critical F404-IN20 engines needed to power the fighter jets.
"The project has been plagued by some delays, but HAL has the capability and capacity to catch up in production once the F404 engines start coming in," the official added.
In 2021, the defence ministry signed a contract for 83 LCA Tejas fighter jets, including 73 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter aircrafts and 10 LCA Tejas Mk1 Trainer aircrafts.
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"The deliveries of all 83 aircraft shall be completed in eight years from now. HAL will be delivering the first three aircraft in the third year and 16 aircrafts per year for subsequent five years," the defence ministry had then said. However, the delivery is yet to happen.
According to media reports, there was some issue with the F404 production line at Lynn in Massachusetts some time ago, but these issues have been fixed. "HAL officials also held talks with GE’s critical vendors earlier this month, and things seem to be on track now,” HT quoted a second official as saying.
