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SOURCE: AFI

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), India’s premier institution for indigenous combat aircraft development, has announced plans to hire an additional 200 engineers to support testing, Initial Operational Clearance (IOC), and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) activities for the Tejas Mk2 project. This strategic hiring initiative underscores ADA’s focus on expanding its workforce to meet the demands of the project as it enters critical development and testing phases.

The Tejas Mk2, also known as the Medium Weight Fighter (MWF), is an advanced iteration of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A. It aims to bridge the gap between the LCA Mk1A and the more advanced AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) that ADA is simultaneously working on. ADA’s decision to expand its engineering team reflects the Tejas Mk2’s ambitious design, which introduces new systems, avionics, and capabilities tailored for high-performance, multirole missions.

The Tejas Mk2 is designed to enhance India’s aerial combat capabilities through a platform with extended range, greater payload capacity, and advanced avionics. Unlike the single-engine, light-weight Tejas Mk1, the Tejas Mk2 is classified as a medium-weight fighter, with an upgraded General Electric F414-GE-IN56 engine to support its expanded combat role. With improved weapon-carrying capabilities and integration of more advanced sensors, the Mk2 can undertake a broader range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and anti-ship roles.

The addition of 200 engineers is aimed at reinforcing the technical expertise needed across the Tejas Mk2 project lifecycle. The recruitment drive will target specialists in systems integration, aerodynamics, avionics, structural engineering, and electronic warfare. The hired engineers will assist ADA in testing, validation, and certification of critical systems that support the aircraft’s IOC and FOC stages.

ADA’s engineers will work alongside Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the aircraft’s manufacturing partner, to streamline production protocols and ensure timely delivery. The new hires will help align ADA’s testing data with HAL’s manufacturing processes to expedite delivery schedules and optimize resource use.

The additional workforce will accelerate certification processes, especially for key milestones such as IOC and FOC, which are critical for the aircraft’s induction timeline. Engineers will play an essential role in certifying sub-systems, weapons compatibility, structural integrity, and endurance capabilities of the Mk2.

Given the extensive upgrades from the Mk1A to the Mk2, the new engineers will work on troubleshooting system integration challenges to ensure each component operates seamlessly under high-stress combat conditions. The focus will include the integration of AESA radar, updated communications, and digital flight control systems.

The Tejas Mk2 is expected to conduct its first flight in the 2026, with IOC planned soon after. FOC is projected to follow once the aircraft demonstrates full mission capability, incorporating advanced weapon systems and demonstrating reliability in rigorous testing conditions.