SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A is nearing a critical milestone as it undergoes rigorous extra firing and electronic warfare (EW) trials to ensure it meets the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) operational standards. According to sources cited by the Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org), the IAF is likely to receive its first fully operational Tejas Mk-1A in the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26, potentially between late April and early May 2025.
The trials follow the Mk-1A’s maiden flight on March 28, 2024 (not February as initially misreported), when the first aircraft, designated LA-5033, took to the skies from HAL’s Bengaluru facility for an 18-minute sortie. That flight, however, utilized older Category B F-404 engines—reserve units from earlier Tejas Mk-1 production—due to delays in the supply of new GE F-404-IN20 engines. These interim engines allowed HAL to maintain testing momentum, but the aircraft’s full potential hinges on the integration of the latest powerplants.
However, on March 25, 2025, GE Aerospace delivered the first of 99 F-404-IN20 engines to HAL, with the unit arriving in India by early April. Sources indicate HAL is now awaiting a second engine, expected shortly, to outfit at least two aircraft for handover to the IAF by late April or early May 2025.
This delivery, part of a $716 million contract signed in 2021 for 83 Mk-1A jets (73 fighters and 10 trainers), ends months of uncertainty. GE has committed to supplying 12 engines by December 2025, with production ramping up to 20 annually from 2026, supporting HAL’s goal of delivering 16-24 jets per year. The new engines, boasting advanced features like single-crystal turbine blades and a higher-flow fan, will replace the Category B units, enabling the Mk-1A to achieve its full performance envelope, including a thrust of 85 kN and enhanced maneuverability.
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