New Delhi, Aug 31, 2025 – India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme is set to achieve another milestone as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) may deliver two Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets by next month. Defence Secretary R.K. Singh confirmed this during the NDTV Defence Summit and said that a new contract for 97 additional aircraft is likely after the initial supply.
The light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, developed by HAL, is India’s first indigenously built multi-role fighter aircraft. It is designed to replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21 aircraft and enhance the operational capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Govt’s push for indigenous fighter jets
According to Singh, HAL will deliver the first two Tejas Mark-1A aircraft with full weapon integration by the end of September. The move comes after repeated delays due to missing deadlines by US defence giant GE Aerospace, which supplies the engines.
“It is expected that the first two of these jets will be delivered by the end of September with weapons integration,” Singh said. He expressed hope that HAL will meet the new deadline.
Currently, around 38 Tejas jets are in service, while 80 more are in production. Once the Mark-1A deliveries begin, the IAF will have a more modern fleet to take on regional security challenges.
₹67,000 crore approved for 97 more jets
Earlier this month, the government approved a proposal to buy additional 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets at a cost of around ₹67,000 crore. Singh stressed that the fresh contract will be signed only after HAL proves its capability by delivering the first two jets.
“I have made it clear to HAL that we will sign this contract only if HAL delivers two full package Tejas aircraft,” Singh said. He further added that the aerospace company will have an order book for the next four to five years, ensuring long-term production and delivery commitments.
Strategic importance of Tejas Mark-1A
The Tejas Mark-1A is a single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft capable of carrying out air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike missions. Its indigenous radar and weapon integration make it a significant step towards India’s goal of self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Singh also indicated that although the Tejas will serve as a working aircraft alongside the Sukhoi jets, a capability gap still exists. “There will still be a gap and we will have to look at some other options to fill that gap,” he said, suggesting possible purchases in the future.
Indian Air Force fighter squadron shortage
The Indian Air Force is currently operating with 31 fighter squadrons, much below the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. With older fleets like the MiG-21 and Jaguar almost getting retired, the induction of Tejas Mark-1A jets is crucial to maintain India’s air combat capability.
The ₹48,000 crore deal for 83 Tejas jets in 2021 was a watershed moment in Indian defence manufacturing. However, production delays had raised concerns within the IAF. The upcoming deliveries could prove to be a turning point for HAL’s reliability in meeting defence deadlines.
Conclusion
The successful delivery of the first two Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets by September will not only strengthen the IAF but also give a boost to India’s defence indigenisation programme. With the government already preparing to place an additional order for 97 of the jets, the Tejas is set to become the backbone of India’s air combat fleet in the coming decade.