SOURCE: AFI
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s premier aerospace and defense public sector undertaking, announced on May 16 that it expects to deliver up to 12 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the end of 2025. The announcement, made during an earnings call, follows the commencement of engine deliveries from General Electric (GE) Aerospace, with the first LCA Mk1A aircraft slated to roll out within the next couple of months.
HAL’s management expressed confidence in meeting the delivery timeline, citing the resolution of key supply chain bottlenecks, particularly the long-delayed delivery of GE engines. “With the engines now arriving, we are on track to roll out the first LCA Mk1A in the coming months and aim to deliver up to 12 aircraft to the IAF by the end of this year,” a senior HAL official said during the earnings call. The company’s Bengaluru facility has ramped up production to meet the ambitious target, leveraging lessons learned from the earlier LCA Mk1 program.
The LCA Mk1A program faced significant delays due to supply chain disruptions, particularly in sourcing the GE F404-IN20 engines, which were impacted by global supply chain challenges and production constraints at GE Aerospace. The IAF had ordered 240 LCA Mk1A jets in two contracts worth over ?1.2 lakh crore, with the first batch of 83 aircraft expected to be delivered by 2029. However, engine shortages had raised concerns about meeting these timelines.
The recent commencement of engine deliveries marks a turning point. GE Aerospace, under its agreement with HAL, is supplying the F404-IN20 engines, which deliver 84 kN of thrust and enable the LCA Mk1A to achieve a top speed of Mach 1.8 and a range of approximately 1,500 kilometers. HAL’s management noted that GE has committed to a steady supply schedule, ensuring that production remains on track. The company is also exploring co-production and technology transfer opportunities with GE to enhance self-reliance in engine manufacturing.
The accelerated delivery of LCA Mk1A jets comes at a critical juncture for the IAF, which is grappling with a shortfall in fighter squadrons amid heightened tensions with Pakistan and China. The recent India-Pakistan aerial clashes in May 2025, following a terrorist attack in Kashmir, underscored the need for advanced, indigenous platforms like the LCA Mk1A. The IAF’s current fleet, comprising Su-30 MKIs, Rafales, and older MiG-21s, requires augmentation to maintain air superiority in the region.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.