India is ramping up military modernisation amid rising threats on its borders, with a strong push for indigenous defence capabilities. At the forefront is HAL’s Tejas MK1A — an advanced version of the homegrown LCA fighter jet, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
As tensions flare post-Operation Sindoor and China reportedly prepares to supply fifth-generation stealth jets to Pakistan, HAL is preparing to deliver its first fleet of Tejas MK1A jets in the immediate term.
Despite delays, the production pipeline is now gearing up as HAL is set to deliver the first batch of 12 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by December 2025 while flight testing of the Tejas MK1A is slated to be conducted in July.
This follows a significant contract signed in 2021 worth Rs 48,000 crore for 83 Tejas MK1As. A second mega-deal, pegged at Rs 67,000 crore, has since been inked for an additional 97 jets, bringing the total order close to 180 aircraft, according to a report by News18.
Three dedicated manufacturing lines, two in Bengaluru and one in Nashik, are set to roll out 24 jets annually, each capable of reaching a blistering top speed of 2,222 km/h (Mach 1.8).
All about Tejas MK1A
The Tejas MK1A is a 4.5 generation multi-role fighter that has a lot in common with the French Rafale. Unlike Rafale, however, Tejas has been fully customised for integration with Indian missiles, including future compatibility with the BrahMos cruise missile.
Built for versatility, the MK1A supports a wide array of weapons – from Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles to air-to-ground and air-to-air variants. BVR missiles enable the pilot to lock and destroy targets that are not even visible on radar, offering strategic superiority in combat scenarios.
How does India's Tejas stack up against F-16 and Rafale?
US F-16 forms the backbone of Pakistan’s air fleet. While the F-16 remains a robust combat aircraft, many of Pakistan’s jets date back to the 1980s. In contrast, Tejas MK1A boasts state-of-the-art avionics, electronic warfare suites, and an indigenously integrated Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system, offering superior tracking and targeting capabilities.
In certain categories, like radar immunity and sensor fusion, Tejas MK1A edges out the F-16, defence experts have argues, according to a report by News18.
As far as the Rafales are concerned, Tejas has been customised for integration with Indian missiles, including future compatibility with the BrahMos cruise missile — this sets it apart from the Rafale. As per reports, it would take years of negotiation for such integration with the Rafale platform.
Tejas' modular structure and indigenous systems make it easier to maintain, upgrade, and weaponise according to national requirements. It remains the spearhead of India’s indigenisation push, bridging the gap between existing legacy fighters and future stealth platforms.
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