LCA Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A - News and discussions

Currently, our defence planners are brainstorming how to acquire Su-57 while escaping any sanctions. All-in-all, we'll end up with over 140 Su-57s
I guess we'd have to wait till Trump leaves office, as NSA Doval is reported to have told Rubio regarding the now removed additional US tarrifs over our oil trade w/Russia.

The timeline for contract signature will then be 2028-29 + another 3 years for mfg and delivery. While we could theoretically lease some ac from RuAF stocks, the risk of CAATSA would still be there.
 
Issue with the engine delivery obviously affected schedule and possibly other factors played its part.

As we know, HAL said in last years call that GE will deliver 12 engines for the last calendar year that is 2025. Till December 2025 this was the normal delivery schedule. Today we have clarification by HAL that 5 have been delivered so far.

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So given Trump happened and the trade deal related issue been ongoing for the past 7-8 months, esp if we count from the time additional tariff issue came into effect it might not be a coincidence that 50% no were/might have been held back by GE due to US gov non-clearance. This is speculative but high chance of this happening judging by how things went on recently. It is possible that till March HAL would receive 6 out of 12 engines planned for 2025 schedule and rest will follow later.

We also have had no other major update related to the F414 engines but since HAL was in active discussion wrt tot and split + the interim trade agreement is done this deal also may be part of the same esp if you consider the aerospace aspect, machinery etc related tariff and access part announced by the govt so far. HAL is supposed to benefit from this.
 
I guess we'd have to wait till Trump leaves office, as NSA Doval is reported to have told Rubio regarding the now removed additional US tarrifs over our oil trade w/Russia.

The timeline for contract signature will then be 2028-29 + another 3 years for mfg and delivery. While we could theoretically lease some ac from RuAF stocks, the risk of CAATSA would still be there.
We could placate Trump by buying more US military wares(but not fighter jets) along with reviving the now defunct FGFA deal as it predates CAATSA. The deal would pick up only once we sign the Rafale deal and once PAF get their first J-35s.

Russian team has already submitted their report about Su-57 local manufacturing and now HAL being out of AMCA, FGFA is their only saving 5th gen grace. Also, as confirmed by UAC officials, the contract(yes, contract;) ) is now in quite advance stage. We could modify the jet as per our needs along with getting access to MUM-T(as S-70 is also on offer). Let's see.
 
We could placate Trump by buying more US military wares(but not fighter jets) along with reviving the now defunct FGFA deal as it predates CAATSA. The deal would pick up only once we sign the Rafale deal and once PAF get their first J-35s.

Russian team has already submitted their report about Su-57 local manufacturing and now HAL being out of AMCA, FGFA is their only saving 5th gen grace. Also, as confirmed by UAC officials, the contract(yes, contract;) ) is now in quite advance stage. We could modify the jet as per our needs along with getting access to MUM-T(as S-70 is also on offer). Let's see.
There's only a few things on the shopping list that we'd really need from the US - P8I, MQ-9. Things like Stryker, Javelin we have domestic alternatives to.

Excalibur too would soon be redundant once our own guided arty rounds (including the latest ramjet powered ones) become operational.

Perhaps a dozen more C-17s (Boeing is reportedly restarting production) in due course?

Don't see how we could balance the scales between US and Ru mil hardware. I think the equalizer would inevitably have to be be a combat jet.

This is going to be very tricky for GoI with Trump literally holding a gun to our head wrt the interim trade deal currently.
 
There's only a few things on the shopping list that we'd really need from the US - P8I, MQ-9. Things like Stryker, Javelin we have domestic alternatives to.

Excalibur too would soon be redundant once our own guided arty rounds (including the latest ramjet powered ones) become operational.

Perhaps a dozen more C-17s (Boeing is reportedly restarting production) in due course?

Don't see how we could balance the scales between US and Ru mil hardware. I think the equalizer would inevitably have to be be a combat jet.

This is going to be very tricky for GoI with Trump literally holding a gun to our head wrt the interim trade deal currently.
more P8Is along with awarding US L1 in the MALE aircraft deal as well as the engine deals with the US for the F404 and F414 should be enough for them to shut up and increase in bilateral trade as they diversify away from what is clearly a hostile economy in china would keep them happy. Although the su57 is still very risky but india really needs to get the rafale and the engine deal with france and all the deals with the US to show them that we are till playing middle ground and are on their side relative to china since we tooo face the same security threat
 
more P8Is along with awarding US L1 in the MALE aircraft deal as well as the engine deals with the US for the F404 and F414 should be enough for them to shut up and increase in bilateral trade as they diversify away from what is clearly a hostile economy in china would keep them happy. Although the su57 is still very risky but india really needs to get the rafale and the engine deal with france and all the deals with the US to show them that we are till playing middle ground and are on their side relative to china since we tooo face the same security threat

Agree. P8I + MQ-9B in a MUM-T combo would give our MDA a big boost. Worth every penny, imo.

Our MQ-9Bs will partially be assembled in India apparently (Kalyani?). But it would be overkill for the MALE requirement both in terms of cost and capability.

GA is apparently also offering the cheaper MQ-1 Grey Eagle but it is set to be retired from the US Army. Doubt we'd get design rights/IP.

I'd put my money on the Heron Mk2 which is already in service in numbers or its local Archer NG derivative.

F404/F414 should be a priority. However, there is speculation that GoI may have worked out an alternative (Safran?) based on Modi's I-Day speech last year.

The problem is Trump's framing of India's oil purchases as 'funding Ukraine war'. Mil purchases will be seen in the same way. Lutnick etc have already stated this in media interviews.

Imo, we'd have to wait for the storm to pass before signing for Su-57 and hope Pak doesn't get J-35 first.
 

HAL upbeat on meeting Tejas production targets in 2026​

Responding to criticism over the Tejas Mk 1A production rate, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said it expects to complete 16 aircraft by the end of India's fiscal year (FY) 2025 in March 2026.

On 5 February, the state-owned aircraft manufacturer said in a post on X that five Tejas Mk 1A aircraft are “fully ready for delivery” and incorporate all major capabilities contracted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). A further nine Mk 1A aircraft are airworthy, while two more are under production, an HAL source told Janes .

Janes understands, however, that HAL has not yet incorporated minor, software-related updates sought by the IAF into the platform. Nevertheless, the first five aircraft are “fully ready” for acceptance by the IAF for induction trials, the HAL source said.

“The software updates can be added to the aircraft as per requirements over the course of the trial period,” the source continued, adding that HAL is currently incurring sustainment‑related costs as the aircraft remain idle in hangars.

The IAF has not officially commented on the aircraft's acceptance schedule. According to HAL, it is in “active discussions with the IAF to deliver the aircraft at the earliest”. The IAF spokesperson could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

The limited availability of the F404-GE-IN20 engine has meant the nine additional aircraft produced are not yet ready for delivery to the IAF, the HAL source said.

Engine deliveries​

HAL sought 12 F404-GE-IN20 engines during FY 2025, which ends 31 March 2026. A GE spokesperson confirmed to Janes on 10 February
 
I am new to this HAL vs IAF story.

HAL:

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IAF:

Aaron Paul He Cant Keep Getting Away With This GIF by Breaking Bad
HAL is involved in none of these projects you posted!!
they arent OEM
 

IAF apparantly wants NGVs with Mk1A, expect more delays 😹
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Typical ragebait engagement farming post jumping into the trend to get engagement. Buddy you need to calm down and think wisely. Such things are basic requirement for a jet. And LCA cockpit has been NGV compatible from day one as someone has already mentioned above...what next our Twitter boys wishing that IAF induct Tejas Mk1A without engine now? I am Tejas fanboi but this bs argument thrown by many that IAF selectively reduces QRs for imported jets not for indigenous is a half baked theory. For their kind information Tejas Mk1 was inducted with a lot of compromises back in the days. Was Tejas Mk1 an imported aircraft? Nope..

The problem with Indian defence nerds community on X is people there hang onto a narrative and keep pushing it depending on the vibe of that day. Just wait a bit and same people would be bashing HAL left and right if the algorithm favours that. There is no nuanced discussion at all. It's all blame X or Y or Z, X conspiring against Y, etc. etc.
 
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