India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) realised in the 1980s that its Soviet-era fighters, notably the MiG-21s, were nearing retirement, prompting the launch of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme in 1983. Officially named Tejas in 2003, meaning brilliance in Sanskrit, the fighter has struggled to live up to its name, plagued by failures, setbacks and recurring issues that repeatedly pushed back deadlines. Despite its first flight in 2001 and induction into the IAF in 2016, the programme continues to face engine, structural, weight and payload problems, causing major delays in fighter deliveries.

Accordingly, a deal worth USD 5 billion was signed between the MoD and HAL for 83 Tejas Mk-1 aircraft in 2021, followed by a USD 6 billion deal in 2025 for 97 more aircraft. Although delivery of the first batch was initially scheduled for March 2024, it remains almost two years behind schedule, with not a single aircraft delivered to date. Analysts view that full-fleet induction could extend beyond 2029. Recently, reports suggest that deliveries of the Tejas Mk-1 are now likely only by mid-2026 or even later, with five structurally completed aircraft at HAL reportedly not deemed fit for induction into the IAF due to pending certifications and incomplete avionics integration.

While HAL has attributed the missed deadlines to delays in the supply schedule of the General Electric F404 engine, the sluggish progress on the Tejas Mk-1 has also drawn criticism from the IAF Chief during his visit to the company in February 2025. In thinly veiled remarks, ACM Singh expressed scepticism towards HAL, stating that a new aircraft is not launched merely by changing its software or appearance; capability is determined by its weapons. His concerns are echoed by other IAF officers, who have highlighted limitations related to endurance, range, manoeuvrability and weapon integration. These remarks acknowledge that the Tejas Mk-1 is far from incorporating weaponry that would significantly enhance its combat capability. The successor, the Tejas Mk-2, has also faced delays, with its prototype, originally scheduled for rollout in August 2022, now deferred to 2027.

Adding to the programme’s troubles are a series of crashes. The first occurred in March 2024 in Jaisalmer during a training sortie, the second during the Dubai Airshow in 2025, and the latest on 7 February 2026 near the runway at the frontline Nalia airbase in Gujarat. Speculation suggests an engine-related problem, as the accident reportedly occurred during landing. Nevertheless, the aircraft sustained major airframe damage. Following the latest incident, it has been reported that the entire Tejas fleet — roughly 40 aircraft produced to date, of which three are written off — has been grounded over flight safety concerns. While accidents are not uncommon in aviation, the more pressing issue is the silence of the IAF, which has not issued a statement following the latest crash. Instead, HAL has offered clarifications, describing the event as a minor technical incident on the ground, a characterisation that raises questions given the reported fleet-wide grounding. The operator itself has reportedly expressed frustration with HAL’s performance, with ACM Singh openly stating that he has “no confidence in HAL”.

The four-decade-old Tejas programme, when compared with Pakistan’s JF-17 — both described as 4.5 generation fighters — reveals a stark contrast. Although the JF-17 made its maiden flight in September 2003, nearly 200 platforms have reportedly been produced to date. The aircraft has also attracted interest from more than 10 prospective buyer states, reportedly due to its lower cost, network-enabled capabilities, precision-strike role, multidomain functionality, sanction-free availability, sustained spare support and operational reliability. In contrast, the Tejas has yet to secure a comparable foothold in the international market.

Moreover, the Astra Mk-1 BVR missile integrated on the Tejas has an effective range of approximately 100 km. By comparison, the JF-17 is equipped with the PL-15 BVR missile, reportedly exceeding a range of 200 km. Additionally, while India claims the integration of various air-to-ground weapons on the Tejas, Pakistan asserts that its JF-17 has deployed combat-proven systems, including operations against Indian S-400 batteries during Marka-e-Haq.

In conclusion, the persistence of delays, technical shortcomings and repeated setbacks suggests that the Tejas programme remains constrained by systemic inefficiencies. More than 40 years after its inception, what was envisioned as a symbol of indigenous brilliance appears instead to reflect bureaucratic inertia and industrial underperformance, leaving India’s ambitions for a reliable homegrown fighter yet to be fully realised.

Air Marshal Asim Suleiman (Retd)The writer is President, Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Lahore, Pakistan.

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