February 5, 2026, Bengaluru : Hindustan Aeronautics Limited officially announced on Thursday that five Tejas Mk1A light combat aircraft have reached full readiness for delivery to the Indian Air Force. The state-run aerospace firm confirmed that these initial fighters incorporate all primary contracted capabilities and successfully meet the rigorous technical specifications required for induction. This milestone represents a significant step forward for the indigenous program, which aims to modernize the nation’s aging fighter fleet with home-grown technology.
In addition to the five completed units, the manufacturer disclosed that another nine aircraft have already been built and have successfully completed their test flights. These airframes are currently stationed at production facilities awaiting the arrival of F404 engines from the United States. While the supply of these powerplants from GE Aerospace has faced international logistics challenges in the past, the company noted that the current supply pipeline has stabilized. The arrival of five engines recently has allowed the assembly lines in Bengaluru and Nashik to maintain momentum.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened focus on defense self-reliance, with the organization emphasizing that it remains on track to meet its financial year delivery targets. Despite the readiness of the aircraft, the formal induction process will involve a comprehensive project review by the Indian Air Force scheduled for May. This assessment will evaluate the fleet’s operational configuration and finalize the official handover schedule for the 180 aircraft currently on order.
The Mk1A variant is a substantial upgrade over the original Tejas, featuring an active electronically scanned array radar, a unified electronic warfare suite, and improved maintenance parameters. These enhancements are designed to provide the air force with a multi-role platform capable of operating in modern, high-threat environments. As production capacity continues to scale across multiple integration lines, the focus remains on synchronizing engine availability with airframe completion to ensure a steady stream of inductions over the coming months.
