Maarg Manthan · Topic 21.10

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and Other Indigenous Defence Platforms

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Defence and Security Current Affairs · Topic 21.10

The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is India's indigenous single-engine, delta-wing multirole fighter, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under DRDO and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The programme began in 1984, the technology demonstrator first flew in January 2001, and the first squadron joined the Indian Air Force in 2016. Orders stand at 83 Tejas Mk1A fighters placed in 2021 and a further 97 cleared in 2025. The Mk1A uses the American GE F404 engine, and engine delays have held up deliveries. Other indigenous platforms include the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, the Arjun tank, the Pinaka rocket system and the planned AMCA fifth-generation fighter.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Defence and Security Current Affairs

At a Glance

Aircraft Tejas, single-engine multirole fighter
Designer Aeronautical Development Agency, DRDO
Builder Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Orders 83 Mk1A in 2021 and 97 more in 2025
Engine GE F404 for Mk1A, F414 planned for Mk2
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Defence and Security Current Affairs

Where Does It Fit?

This topic completes the platform side of the macro. Missiles, carriers and fighters together show what indigenisation has produced and where it still depends on imported engines and parts. Previous topic: Indigenous Aircraft Carriers and Naval Modernisation (INS Vikrant, INS Vikramaditya). Next topic: Multilateral and Bilateral Defence Exercises (Malabar, Yudh Abhyas, Tarang Shakti, Garuda Shakti).

What Are the Key Facts About the Tejas Programme?

Item	Facts
Start	The Kaveri failed)…">Light Combat Aircraft programme was approved in 1983 and the Aeronautical Development Agency was set up in 1984 to run it
Name	The aircraft was named Tejas, meaning radiance, by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003
Milestones	First flight of the technology demonstrator in January 2001, induction into the Air Force in 2016 and final operational clearance for the Mk1 in 2019
Mk1A	Upgraded version with an active electronically scanned array radar, better electronic warfare suite and easier maintenance. 83 were ordered in February 2021 for about Rs 48,000 crore
97 more	The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared 97 more Mk1A fighters in 2025 at about Rs 62,000 crore, as reported, which would raise the Mk1A fleet to 180
Engines	The Mk1 and Mk1A use the GE F404 engine of the United States. The Mk2 is planned to use the more powerful GE F414 engine
Mk2 and AMCA	Tejas Mk2, a larger medium-weight fighter, has a first flight target around 2027, and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, a fifth-generation design, has a target around 2028 or later, as reported

What Is the Latest Status and What Other Platforms Exist?

Delivery delays: HAL missed the original deadline of 2024 for the first Mk1A deliveries because of late engine supply from General Electric and supply chain issues
Latest guidance: as reported in 2026, HAL expected deliveries to begin by August or September 2026 and to reach about 18 to 24 jets by the end of the year. Reports differ on whether deliveries have begun, so treat dates as targets
Squadron strength: the Air Force has fewer squadrons than its sanctioned strength of 42, and the retirement of older MiG-21 aircraft has widened the gap
Prachand: the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, built by HAL, was inducted in October 2022, and an order for 156 helicopters, split between the Army and the Air Force, was cleared in 2025, as reported
Land systems: the Arjun main battle tank, the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, the ATAGS gun and the Dhanush gun are indigenous or partly indigenous artillery and armour

What Else Should You Remember?

ADA: the Aeronautical Development Agency is a DRDO laboratory in Bengaluru that designs the aircraft, while HAL is the manufacturer
Trainer: the HTT-40 basic trainer and the Hindustan jet trainer project add to indigenous trainers
Helicopters: the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv and the Light Utility Helicopter give a rotary wing line
Pinaka: Pinaka is a rocket artillery system developed by DRDO and made by public and private firms, and sold abroad to a few countries, as reported
Engine gap: the Kaveri engine did not meet the thrust need for the Tejas, which led to the use of the GE engines, and work continues on a new engine with foreign help
Link to missiles: weapons used on Tejas include indigenous missiles such as Astra, linked to the programmes in Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) Legacy Systems
Link to ships: the naval aircraft side is covered in Indigenous Aircraft Carriers and Naval Modernisation (INS Vikrant, INS Vikramaditya)
Criticism: delays, dependence on imported engines and radars, and cost overruns are the main criticisms, and the Comptroller and Auditor General has also noted slow progress
Defence of programme: supporters note that the industry base, test infrastructure and skills built by the programme are a national gain

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Agencies: ADA designs and HAL builds Tejas
Engines: GE F404 for Mk1A and F414 for Mk2, and the Kaveri engine
Order sizes: 83 and 97 for Mk1A
Other platforms: Prachand is a helicopter, Pinaka is a rocket system, Arjun is a tank
Common errors: calling Tejas a twin-engine aircraft, or saying that DRDO builds the aircraft

As an analytical point, fighter production at scale needs a stable engine supply and a deep component base. The Tejas shows that design capability exists, but turning it into steady output depends on industrial depth and timely supplies.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Facts Agencies and orders
Engines GE and Kaveri
Platforms Helicopters and artillery

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the military exercises that India conducts with other countries. Next topic: Multilateral and Bilateral Defence Exercises (Malabar, Yudh Abhyas, Tarang Shakti, Garuda Shakti).

Key People and Terms

LCA Light Combat Aircraft
ADA Aeronautical Development Agency
HAL Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
AESA Active electronically scanned array radar
AMCA Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
LCH Light Combat Helicopter

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Tejas designer: ADA; maker: HAL.
First flight: January 2001; induction: 2016.
Orders: 83 (2021) and 97 (2025) Mk1A.
Engine: GE F404 (Mk1A), F414 (Mk2).
Helicopter: Prachand, inducted in October 2022.

Do Not Confuse With

Tejas Mk1A and Mk2 Upgraded light fighter versus larger medium-weight fighter
ADA and HAL Design agency versus manufacturer
Tejas and AMCA Fourth-plus generation versus fifth-generation design

Memory Hook

ADA designs, HAL builds, GE gives the engine.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about the gap between design and production. These points give a frame.

Gains Design skills and industry base
Delays Engines and supply chain
Way ahead Engine programme and private firms

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Analyse why indigenous fighter programmes like the Tejas face delays and suggest how to speed up production.”

How to Answer

Facts Programme history and orders.
Causes Engines and supply chain.
Effects Squadron shortfall.
Way Engine work and private partners.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Tejas facts, developers, engines, other platforms. GS Paper 3: indigenisation, defence technology, aerospace manufacturing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft?

The Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine, delta-wing multirole fighter, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under DRDO and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The programme began in 1984, the first squadron joined the Indian Air Force in 2016, and the improved Mk1A version is now in production.

How many Tejas Mk1A aircraft has India ordered?

India ordered 83 Tejas Mk1A fighters in February 2021 for about Rs 48,000 crore, and the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared 97 more in 2025 at about Rs 62,000 crore as reported. Together they would form a fleet of 180 Mk1A aircraft once delivered.

Why are Tejas Mk1A deliveries delayed?

Deliveries have been delayed mainly because the GE F404 engines arrived late from the United States, along with other supply chain issues. As reported in 2026, HAL expected deliveries to start around August or September 2026, but the date has slipped before, so treat it as a target.

What is the difference between Tejas Mk1A and Mk2?

The Mk1A is an upgraded light fighter with an AESA radar and better electronic warfare, using the GE F404 engine. The Mk2 is a larger, medium-weight fighter planned with the more powerful GE F414 engine, and it was not yet flying as of the latest reports, with a first flight target around 2027.

What is the AMCA?

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is India's planned fifth-generation stealth fighter, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency. It is meant to follow the Tejas Mk2, and as reported a first flight is targeted around 2028 or later, with the choice of the production partner still under discussion.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Tejas is a twin-engine fighter.

False

It is a single-engine aircraft.

2 Tejas is designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency.

True

HAL builds it.

3 The Tejas Mk1A uses the GE F404 engine.