SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the lead integrator of the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), is facing significant delays in the production of the Tejas Mk1A due to the lack of supply of F-404 engines from GE Aerospace. The setback has affected the planned rollout of the first Tejas Mk1A jet from HAL’s new third production line, located in the MiG complex in Nashik. Originally scheduled for November, the milestone has now been postponed till March 2025, further impacting HAL’s ambitious production targets.
HAL, which currently operates two Tejas LCA production lines in Bangalore, has been manufacturing 16 aircraft per year. However, the lack of F-404 engines has caused production to slow down. HAL had aimed to expand its manufacturing capacity by opening the Nashik plant, with plans to initially produce an additional five Tejas Mk1A jets per year and eventually ramp up to eight. The production boost at Nashik was seen as critical to meeting the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirement of 83 Tejas Mk1A jets, which were ordered under a ?46,898 crore contract signed in February 2021.
The Nashik facility was expected to complement the existing production lines and alleviate pressure by accelerating deliveries. However, due to engine supply bottlenecks, this expansion plan has hit a roadblock, stalling HAL’s efforts to meet delivery schedules.
The F-404 engine, manufactured by U.S.-based GE Aerospace, is the powerplant for the Tejas Mk1A variant. The engine supply delay stems from global supply chain disruptions, which have affected various industries, including aerospace. GE Aerospace had informed HAL earlier about potential delays in engine deliveries, which have now become a critical obstacle in the LCA production schedule. The F-404 engine is crucial not only for new builds but also for replacing engines in older aircraft that are due for upgrades or overhauls.
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