Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has, on Thursday, clarified that radar-related issues and weapons integration are still need to be completed before deliveries of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) can begin.
HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Kumar said the aircraft must meet all the specifications committed to the IAF before it can be handed over, adding that work is underway to resolve the remaining issues.
His remarks come even as HAL is set to hand over LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainers and HTT 40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF and Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans in Bengaluru.
"For the deliveries to happen, the aircraft must meet the specifications we committed to the services. We are still not there yet with respect to one or two capabilities, particularly the radar and missile integration. We are working very hard to complete those," Kumar told news agency ANI.
He said HAL was hopeful of resolving the issues soon and beginning deliveries. The company has already received 10 engines, while as many as 27 airframes are ready.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to resolve these issues soon and start deliveries. Since we have received 10 engines, we should be able to begin delivering the aircraft," Kumar said.
Kumar, in an interview with Hindustan Times, described the remaining work as "last-mile corrections".
"There are a few radar issues that we need to address. Also, the final weapons integration testing is still pending. We should resolve these issues within a month or so and get the aircraft ready for delivery," he said.
The IAF has placed two orders for a total of 180 Tejas Mk-1A fighters worth around ₹1.1 lakh crore. The first contract, covering 83 aircraft, was signed in February 2021. This was followed by another order for 97 fighters in September 2025.
HAL has continued building the fighters even as it works through the remaining issues.
Kumar said the company has the capacity to manufacture 24 Mk-1As annually and that production is continuing irrespective of engine availability.
"We are not stopping production, irrespective of engine availability. We are building airframes so that aircraft can be rolled out as the engines arrive," he said.
HAL is also extensively involving private companies in the programme. Kumar said the company handles integration work while several non-core activities related to the LCA, helicopters and HTT-40 are undertaken by private industry partners.
"We are confident that we will be able to complete the deliveries," he said.
The 97 aircraft covered by the second contract will also feature a range of indigenous systems. According to Kumar, these will include the Uttam AESA radar and Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare suite.
"Around 40 imported systems in the first 83 aircraft will be indigenised as we execute the second contract," he said.
A defence ministry document had stated a few days ago that deliveries would begin in September 2027 and be completed by September 2033.
