The GE F-404 engine fitted in the Tejas jet is one of the reserve engines of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The company had to give 83 new Tejas Mark 1A fitted with this engine to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The U.S. company General Electric (GE) has not been sending these engines due to problems in the global aviation industry - as they claim, which has created a major issue for HAL.
The Government of India requested HAL to manufacture 83 Tejas Mark 1A in 2021 for a total of Rs 46000 crore. Their supply was to start from March 2024, but this was not possible due to the lack of engines. Therefore, it was feared that the first fighter jet would not be delivered earlier than November.
However, according to top defense-related sources, the first fighter jet will be handed over to the IAF in late August or early September. HAL has tried to streamline the supply of jets by installing engines from its reserve stock. "The initial jets will be prepared for supply with reserve engines. It is hoped that the supply of engines from GE will begin by then," the source said.
Per the agreement, HAL has to hand over 12 jets to the IAF by the end of this financial year in March 2025. The two-seater trainer of this jet was handed over to the IAF in October last year. Tejas Mark 1A could carry weapons weighing more than 5 tonnes. It has better radar and electronic warfare systems, and an ASRAAM missile for air-to-air attacks. Further, it could be equipped with the Brahmos NJ in future.
The IAF wants to make Tejas its main fighter jet in the future. Currently, the IAF has two squadrons (about 40 jets) in the Air Force, Flying Daggers and Flying Bullets, which are stationed at the Sulur Airbase in Tamil Nadu. Cabinet approval has already been given for the purchase of 97 more similar jets.