SOURCE: AFI
Air Chief Marshal VK Chaudhuri has called for a swift resolution to the ongoing delays in the delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Indian Air Force (IAF), grappling with a critical shortage of fighter jets, is eagerly awaiting the delivery of additional Tejas fighters to bolster its combat capabilities.
Addressing the media following the conclusion of the multinational exercise Tarang Shakti, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhuri emphasized the urgent need to establish diversified production lines to bridge the growing gap in the supply of Tejas jets. He underscored the industry’s responsibility in finding innovative solutions to ramp up production and ensure timely delivery of the aircraft.
The IAF initially placed an order for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets, valued at Rs 48,000 crore. However, recognizing the criticality of the program, the government has subsequently increased the order by an additional 97 aircraft. The production delays, primarily attributed to the late delivery of F-404 engines from the US-based General Electric (GE), have resulted in a setback of more than 10 months for the Tejas program.