cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/40217355
This is a Sad and concerning news, not just for IAF but for all of India. Recently HAL has revised its timeline regarding the delievery of Tejas Mk1a and HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft by the end of current financial year that is 31 March 2026
Earlier it was supposed to deliever 10 Tejas Aircraft and 12 HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft but now it has been revised to 5 Tejas and 3 HTT-40.
This has mainly occurred due to various challnges, the main one being that the engines of both the Aircrafts are imported and there are significant delays in delievery by American Vendors.
For the Tejas, delays in delievery of GE F-404 engine and for HTT-40 delays in delievery of TPE331-12B turboprop engines from Honeywell are the major cause.
Also some critical delays have been created due to internal problems like testing of weapon systems for Tejas platform before induction are also reasons.
The revised timelines need to be understood in a broader term. In total 180 Tejas Aircraft are ordered by IAF under towo seperate contracts totalling upto Rs 1.1 Lakh Crore (13.75 Billion US Dollars). The initial order being of 83 fighters signed in February 2021 and a second contract for 97 additional aircraft approved in September 2025.
The delieveries of the 5 tejas mentioned here is the part of the first contract and the whole contact will be done in a 4-5 year period. And the Second batch will commence from 2027 and will extend to 6 years.
These delays are extreme because the first jet under the first contract signed in 2021, had to be dexecuted in 2023 but now it will be in 2026, a 5 year delay.
General Electronics (GE) has given its assurance that it will start delievering 20 Engines per year from 2027 onwards, which will help in bringing project back to track if done as said.
The HAL too has increased its production capacity. Currently, in its Banglore facility can manufacture 20 jets per year and the recently operational Nashik Facility increases this limit upto 24 jets per year.
The real problem lies with engines and coincidently or not, both the engines for both the jets are being bought from US Vendors.
This is a key sign, why we need to improve our approach towards engine for achieving self-reliance.
What do you think, Should India take these delievery delays as US non-cooperation with India.
Feel free to tell me your opinion in comments.
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Thanks