SOURCE: AFI
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has confirmed its readiness to manufacture 24 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets per year starting in 2027, contingent on the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) clearing additional orders for 97 units of the advanced light combat aircraft, in addition to the 83 units ordered in 2021. This ambitious production ramp-up underscores HAL’s commitment to bolstering India’s indigenous defense capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
To achieve this enhanced production capacity, HAL has activated a third production line at its Nashik plant, which will contribute an additional 8 units per year to the existing capacity of 16 units from its two Bangalore facilities. This strategic expansion strengthens HAL’s ability to meet the IAF’s growing demand for the Tejas Mk1A, an advanced variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) featuring improved avionics, radar systems, and weapon capabilities.
HAL has also outlined plans to collaborate with private sector companies by outsourcing the assembly of certain sections of the Tejas Mk1A, should the IAF require an increase in annual production beyond the planned 24 units. This move reflects HAL’s proactive approach to scalability and its intent to leverage India’s private defense industry to meet accelerated delivery timelines.
The Tejas Mk1A is a critical component of the IAF’s modernization efforts, designed to replace aging aircraft and enhance combat capabilities with its multi-role functionality, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The potential order for an additional 97 units, if cleared, would bring the total Tejas Mk1A order to 180 units, significantly boosting the IAF’s operational strength and HAL’s production portfolio.
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