India strengthens its arsenal: Tejas MK1A fighter jet to take off from Nashik on Friday

MUMBAI: The Tejas Mk1A fighter jet, a milestone in India's indigenous fighter jet program, will take off from Nashik on Friday, October 17. The aircraft is being manufactured by Hindustan Aero Limited (HAL). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the event. HAL's third production line for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will also be inaugurated on the same day.

However, even as the Tejas Mk 1A fighter jet prepares to take off, the Indian Air Force is facing a crisis due to the supply disruption. The main reason for the delay in the program scheduled for last year was the late delivery of GE's F404 engine from the United States. So far, Hindustan Aero Limited has received only four engines. Two more are expected to arrive by the end of October. The company points to the disruption in the engine supply chain as the main problem. It is expected that there will be regular monthly deliveries in the coming months.

Officials say that once the supply of engines is stabilised, the production of the fighter jets can be accelerated. A total of ten MK1A aircraft have been built and tested so far. However, the fighter jets will be fully handed over to the IAF only after the final flight tests and armament integration. There are reports that the MK1A aircraft will be handed over this month, but the date has not been confirmed. Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari had earlier expressed his disappointment over the delay in the delivery of the aircraft.

Tejas Mk1A has completed major weapons tests, including the integration of Astra and ASRAAM missiles. HAL has signed a contract to deliver 83 aircraft by 2029. The new contract, signed on September 25, added 97 more aircraft scheduled to be delivered between 2027 and 2034. Along with this, HAL is preparing to launch the more advanced Tejas Mk2 aircraft by 2027 as part of India's push into indigenous fighter aircraft.