Rajnath Singh reviews HAL projects; Tejas Mk1A delivery delays come under scrutiny
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday (June 8, 2026) reviewed the progress of major ongoing projects of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a high-level meeting
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday (June 8, 2026) reviewed the progress of major ongoing projects of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a high-level meeting held at Kartavya Bhavan, with delays in the delivery of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A featuring prominently in the discussions. During the meeting, Mr. Singh directed the Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, K. Ravi, to strictly adhere to delivery schedules for all defence projects and emphasised the need for the timely execution of programmes critical to the armed forces’ modernisation plans. According to senior defence officials, the Ministry of Defence is also examining the possibility of imposing penalties on HAL for delays in the delivery of Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Officials said six GE F404 engines required for the programme had already arrived in India, while nearly 18 Tejas Mk1A airframes were ready. With engine supplies beginning to stabilise, authorities are hopeful that HAL will be able to deliver the aircraft by the end of the year. Supply chain disruptions The Tejas Mk1A deliveries were originally scheduled to commence earlier but have faced repeated delays due to supply chain disruptions and delays in engine deliveries from the United States. To accelerate production and meet future requirements, HAL has established three dedicated production lines — two in Bengaluru and one in Nashik.
The Tejas Mk1A programme remains a key pillar of the IAF’s fighter fleet modernisation effort. The Air Force has already contracted 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft under a deal worth over ₹48,000 crore. The government has also cleared the procurement of an additional 97 aircraft, significantly expanding the programme’s scale. The Tejas family comprises multiple variants, including the Mk1, Mk1A, the under-development Mk2, as well as trainer and naval versions. While the Mk1 is currently operational with the IAF, the Mk1A introduces several advanced capabilities, including an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an upgraded electronic warfare suite, beyond-visual-range missile capability, air-to-air refuelling and a reduced radar signature.
The review meeting comes amid growing emphasis on strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing and ensuring timely induction of domestically developed platforms into the armed forces. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. attended the meeting. Raja Subramani, IAF Chief A.P. Singh and other senior officials.
The BriefWire