Another nine jets are ready at the factory and they await engines from US firm General Electric (GE), the HAL says

Public sector military plane manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Thursday said it is ready with five “fully ready” Tejas Mark 1-A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Another nine jets are ready at the factory and they await engines from US firm General Electric (GE), the HAL said.

“We can confirm that five aircraft are fully ready for delivery, incorporating major contracted capabilities in accordance with the agreed specifications. An additional nine aircraft have already been built. Upon receipt of engines from GE, these planes will be made ready for delivery,” the Bengaluru-headquartered company said.

All design and development issues identified were being addressed in an expedited manner, it said. The HAL is in active discussions with the Indian Air Force to deliver the aircraft at the earliest, the company said, adding “it will meet the guidance (timeline) projected for the current financial year”.

The HAL said it had received five engines from GE as on date. “The supply position from GE is positive and the future delivery outlook aligns with the HAL’s delivery plans,” it added.

Sources said the delay in supply of F404 engines has set back the delivery schedule of the Tejas Mark 1-A jets. HAL is producing 180 of these planes for the Indian Air Force. The deliveries of the planes were to start in March 2024, and the engines should have come before that date.

The delay in supplies of contracted equipment of the GE F404 engines needed for the under-production Tejas Mark1-A fighter jets has become irksome for India. In July last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asked his US counterpart Pete Hegseth to fast-track the delivery.

New Delhi is commercially committed to US-origin supplies of engines needed for fighter jets. Since the US-India relations soured last year, the supplies of engines have been delayed.