Aero India 2025 | HAL to supply 180 LCA Tejas Mk1A by 2031-32

Bengaluru: Amidst widespread concerns on the delivery of LCA Tejas Mk1A, state-owned aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Tuesday said it would complete the delivery of 180 aircraft by 2031-32 as per the original plan as the supply of GE 404 engines is set to be resumed shortly.

HAL Chairman cum Managing Director DK Sunil said the first engine would arrive by March and the US major promised supplying 12 such engines in this calendar year. Also the company has increased its production capabilities to manufacture 24 Tejas LCA Mk1A every year.

The US major’s failure to deliver the engines is the main reason for HAL not being able to start the production of the home grown combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, which is struggling with depleting squadron numbers.

The Defence Ministry in 2021 signed an agreement with the HAL to supply 83 LCA Tejas Mk-1 – 73 fighters and 10 trainers – to the IAF at a cost of Rs 45,696 crores. For these aircraft, GE was to supply 99 engines.

Out of the engines available in the stock, the company has made three LCA MK-1A aircraft that flew at ongoing Aero India and two are in the final stages of production. But more engines are needed to manufacture the rest.

Last year, the defence ministry issued another tender to procure another 97 Tejas LCA at an approximate cost of about Rs 65,000 crore but the final contract is yet to be signed. This is one of the two major contracts that the HAL is pursuing, the other being the one on 156 Light Combat Helicopters (Prachanda).

Sunil said both contracts would be finalised in the next 3-6 months, adding another Rs 1.2 lakh crore to the company’s order book.

Asked about the supply of more advanced GE 414 engines for LCA-Mk2 and the fifth generation AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), Sunil said the two sides were currently negotiating on 80% technology transfer as against the initial US offer of 58%.

“There are certain technologies about which they said they will give the processes, but we need the drawings. Once the discussions on technology transfer are over, we will go to finance,” he said.

On AMCA, the HAL chief said the home grown fifth generation fighter is expected to fly in three years as the programme was on track. The aircraft is scheduled to enter the production phase by 2034.

"The design of AMCA is nearly complete, and we are now moving into the prototyping phase. We are working closely with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and we expect the first flight by early 2028. Testing will follow thereafter,” he said.