New Delhi

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will undertake a fresh review of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A programme in May before taking a decision on accepting deliveries of the fighter jets, defence sources said. The IAF has placed orders for 180 aircraft under the programme.

The project had earlier been reviewed in detail in December last year. With most aircraft-related milestones expected to be completed by April 2026, the Air Force plans another comprehensive assessment in May, following which a final delivery schedule will be determined, sources told ANI.

Officials of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), however, said the company is ready to deliver five LCA Mk1A jets, with key systems such as radar, electronic warfare suites and weapons already integrated. According to HAL, the aircraft are in a condition suitable for acceptance.

The IAF has placed orders for the Mk1A fighters in two separate tranches, but deliveries have faced repeated delays. While the aircraft were originally expected to be handed over last year, the Air Force has maintained that the jets must be delivered only in a fully operational configuration.

HAL conducted the maiden flight of the first Tejas Mk1A prototype from its Nashik facility on October 17. The Nashik plant has been developed as the third production line under the Tejas programme, complementing the two existing lines in Bengaluru.

Supply chain disruptions, particularly related to the aircraft’s engine, have contributed to the delay in deliveries, pushing timelines back by nearly a year.

HAL currently has around 15 aircraft in an advanced stage of readiness and expects to have approximately 20 jets ready by the end of the year.

Separately, HAL is also likely to be excluded from India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, though a final decision on this matter is yet to be taken by the defence ministry.

India has been strongly promoting indigenous defence manufacturing, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having earlier flown in a single-engine LCA to demonstrate support for the programme.

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In addition to the LCA Mk1A, HAL is engaged in several major projects, including the LCA Mark 2, the CATS Warrior unmanned system, and multiple helicopter development programmes.