The Indian Air Force will get at least half-a-dozen Tejas Light Combat Aircraft by March 2026, the chief of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., which is manufacturing the cutting-edge fighter jets, has disclosed. He attributes the delivery delays to GE Aerospace missing deadline for supply of its engines.
After delays, GE Aerospace announces delivery of jet engines for Tejas LCA-Mk1A
The slippage in the delivery schedule for the LCA Mk-1A variant of the jet had become a major issue with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh raising the matter publicly.
HAL Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sunil said the delay was caused only due to the U.S. firm’s inability to supply the F404 engines on time.
In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, the HAL chief said GE Aerospace is expected to supply 12 engines in the current fiscal. This will facilitate delivery of the jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
