HAL’s Hyderabad facility obtained the primary indigenously constructed centre fuselage for the Tejas Mk1A, accelerating manufacturing of 83 jets. This milestone helps India’s Make in India initiative and defence self-reliance, aiming to ship fighter jets on time regardless of previous delays.
India’s first indigenous Mild Fight Plane (LCA) Tejas Mk1A mission received a serious increase after Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL) received its centre fuselage meeting line in Hyderabad on Friday to make sure the well timed supply of the fighter jet to the Air Power, because the nation units out to additional strengthen the defence sector within the wake of India Pakistan tensions.
Foiling assaults from Pakistan proved the aptitude Indian navy and its defence techniques, which have seen an incredible increase lately, with New Delhi additional growing its defence manufacturing sector.
The handing over of the primary centre fuselage meeting, developed by Hyderabad-based VEM Applied sciences, additionally serves as an incredible increase to the Make in India initiative of the Centre and can expedite the manufacturing of the 83 Tejas Mk1A jets beneath a Rs 48,000 crore deal signed in February 2021. The primary of the jets had missed its supply deadline of March 2024.
Significance: Increase to India’s defence and Atmanirbhar Bharat put up Operation Sindoor
The meeting handover is an addition to HAL’s current two strains at its Bengaluru facility and one other one at HAL Nashik. On condition that the indigenously developed fuselage manufacturing line comes from an Indian agency additionally serves as a serious increase to the Make in India mission and the defence manufacturing sector, paving the best way additional for progress in such exports.
Secretary (Defence Manufacturing) Sanjeev Kumar mentioned that there’s a vital progress in defence manufacturing at a price of about 10% yearly, in addition to in our defence exports.
This additionally holds paramount significance after Operation Sindoor, beneath which India launched strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan and PoK earlier this month in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror assault and likewise efficiently thwarted strikes on its territory by Pakistan via its air defence techniques equivalent to S-400 amongst others till a ceasefire was agreed between the 2 nations.
What IAF chief mentioned on delays defence tasks
On Thursday, Indian Air Power Chief Amar Preet Singh identified a key subject affecting Indian defence tools manufacturing, stating that not one of the tasks he may recall — together with the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet — have been delivered to the power on time.
“Timelines are a serious concern. I can not recall a single mission that has been accomplished on time. That is one thing we should look at carefully,” mentioned Air Marshal Singh. He added, “Why ought to we promise one thing we all know can’t be delivered? Usually, even on the time of signing the contract, we’re conscious that the deadlines are unachievable. But, we proceed. This compromises the complete course of.”
What number of Tejas Mk1A jets have been ordered
The Tejas Mk1A mission goals to bolster the Indian Air Power with a complicated, indigenously constructed fighter jet. A complete of 83 jets have been ordered, together with 73 fighters and 10 trainers. None of those have been delivered but, and the brand new timeline purpose is to ship a minimal of 16 Mk-1A jets every year to finish the 83-aircraft order by 2028.
How is it completely different from MK1
The Mk1A options improved avionics, radar, and weapon techniques over the sooner variant. Nevertheless, supply delays have raised issues throughout the defence institution.
India’s MK1 fighter jet fleet
As of Might 2025, the Indian Air Power (IAF) operates 36 Tejas Mk1 fighter jets. These plane are a part of an preliminary order of 40 Mk1 variants, comprising 32 single-seat fighters and eight twin-seat trainers.
The Tejas Mk1, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL), marked India’s entry into indigenous fighter plane manufacturing and laid the inspiration for subsequent variants just like the Mk1A.