SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A program faces a potential delay due to ongoing issues with the supply of F404 engines from GE Aerospace. Sources close to the program have informed idrw that these delays could push back deliveries by over 10-12 months.
The Tejas Mk1A was designed specifically for the F404 engine, and there is currently no viable alternative. The Kaveri engine, an indigenous option being developed by India, is still facing delays and is not expected to be ready for production for another 5-6 years. The RD-33 engine, considered in the early 1990s, is no longer a feasible fallback solution.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-run aerospace company manufacturing the Tejas, will reportedly continue production of the aircraft at its current pace. This means the Tejas Mk1A jets will be ready for delivery as soon soon as the F404 engine supply resumes. GE Aerospace has indicated that they are working with HAL to resolve the supply chain constraints and get the engines back on track, with a target of September 2024 for deliveries to pick up again.
This delay is likely to impact the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) plans for inducting the Tejas Mk1A. The IAF is looking to bolster its fighter squadrons, and the Tejas Mk1A is a key component of that strategy.
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