India to Ink Historic Deal for 97 Tejas Jets Amidst Air Force Shortfall

India is on the verge of finalizing a landmark ₹66,500 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the procurement of 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighter.

NEW DELHI: In a significant move to boost its aerial combat capabilities, India is on the verge of finalizing a landmark ₹66,500 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets. The colossal contract comes at a critical time for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is grappling with a severe shortage of fighter squadrons and persistent delays in the delivery of previously ordered aircraft.

The agreement, poised to be the largest-ever defense contract with a domestic firm, is expected to be signed as early as Thursday. This acquisition is crucial as the IAF’s fighter squadron strength is set to dip to an all-time low of 29 with the imminent retirement of 36 vintage MiG-21s. This stark number stands in sharp contrast to the IAF’s sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons, a deficit that military analysts argue is insufficient to counter the combined threats posed by regional adversaries like Pakistan and China. Pakistan, for instance, operates with 25 fighter squadrons and is slated to receive at least 40 J-35A fifth-generation stealth jets from China.

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Delivery Delays and Self-Reliance

Despite the urgency, the new deal is being pursued even though the IAF has yet to receive the first Tejas Mark-1A from a previous order of 83 jets, a contract valued at ₹46,898 crore signed in February 2021. The IAF has consistently voiced its concerns over the slow pace of the Tejas program, emphasizing that operational readiness cannot be sacrificed indefinitely in the name of 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance). Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has previously stated that the IAF is 

"very badly off in numbers" and needs to induct at least 40 fighters annually to maintain combat readiness.

Deliveries for the 2021 order were originally scheduled between February 2024 and February 2028. While a source within the defense establishment indicated that the IAF was hesitant to greenlight a new contract before the previous one’s deliveries began, budgetary pressures and the need to utilize allocated funds appear to have accelerated the process.

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HAL, for its part, has assured that the first two of the 83 jets will be delivered by October. The state-run aerospace giant attributes some of the initial delays to the slow pace of engine deliveries from its American partner, General Electric (GE). The US firm has so far supplied three of the 99 GE-F404 turbofan engines from a ₹5,375 crore deal signed in August 2021, with seven more expected by the end of the year. For the new 97-jet order, HAL is preparing to sign a new $1 billion deal with GE for 113 more engines.

Certification Challenges

However, the delivery of the first Tejas jets remains contingent on crucial weapon trials. The IAF insists on a thorough certification process, which includes the successful firing of Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, advanced short-range air-to-air missiles, and laser-guided bombs. The integration of these weapons with the Israeli-origin Elta ELM-2052 radar and fire control system is expected to be a time-consuming process.

A senior officer noted that the certification and weapon trials could push the delivery timeline to the end of the year, stating, "I don’t see the delivery happening before year-end unless IAF is forced to accept the fighters without certification."

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To meet the demands of both contracts, HAL has ramped up its production capabilities. The company promises to increase its annual output to 20 Tejas jets and eventually to 24-30 per year, thanks to a new production line in Nashik that complements its two existing facilities in Bengaluru.