New Delhi, — April 1, 2026 : According to report American aerospace manufacturer GE Aerospace has handed over the sixth F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a 2021 contract to power India’s indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. The latest delivery, confirmed at the close of the financial year 2025–26 on March 31, remains below revised targets and underscores ongoing supply chain and production constraints affecting the programme.
HAL had expected 11 engines during the fiscal year; however, only six were delivered. According to HAL sources, the sixth engine has not yet physically arrived in India, with the handover completed at GE’s facilities in the United States.
A spokesperson for GE Aerospace confirmed the development, stating that the company has delivered the sixth engine against the 2021 order and continues to coordinate closely with HAL to maintain visibility on production schedules.
Contract Scope and Delivery Timeline
The original contract, signed in February 2021 and valued at approximately $716 million, covers the supply of 99 F404-IN20 engines along with logistics support, technical assistance, and associated equipment. These engines are intended for 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 3, 2021.
The first engine under this agreement was delivered in March 2025, followed by the fifth engine in December 2025. The sixth engine was handed over in March 2026. Earlier delays in the programme were attributed to the restart of the F404 production line, which had remained inactive for approximately five years after completion of earlier Tejas Mk1 orders.
Despite these deliveries, engine availability has remained the primary constraint affecting the production timeline. Defence sources indicate that the engine supply issue has been the central bottleneck, with other challenges considered secondary.
Discrepancies in Delay Attribution
Sources within the defence establishment stated that GE Aerospace attributed recent delays to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28, 2026. However, a review of the delivery timeline indicates that no engines were supplied between December 2025 and late February 2026—a gap of more than two months prior to the outbreak of the conflict.
This sequence suggests that supply chain disruptions predated the conflict, raising questions about the extent to which recent geopolitical developments have contributed to the slowdown.
Tejas Mk1A Programme Delays and Revised Timeline
The Tejas Mk1A fighter, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by HAL, was originally scheduled for delivery to the Indian Air Force in March 2024. Multiple revised timelines have since been missed.
Current projections indicate that the first batch of aircraft will be inducted no earlier than June or July 2026, representing a delay of more than two years from the initial schedule.
To facilitate early deliveries in the current fiscal year, the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agreed in February 2026 to grant HAL limited exemptions from certain contractual requirements.
Under this arrangement, the Indian Air Force will accept the aircraft once three essential conditions are fulfilled:
- Completion of missile-firing tests
- Integration of the radar system with the electronic warfare suite
- Validation of the full weapons package
Defence sources confirmed that missile-firing trials have been completed, and the certification process for the remaining systems is underway. These parameters have been identified as mandatory for acceptance under the revised framework.
Certification Status and Acceptance Process
According to programme officials, major capabilities associated with the Tejas Mk1A are currently progressing through the certification pipeline, with completion expected by the end of April 2026.
Following certification, the Indian Air Force is expected to begin its acceptance trials. This process is anticipated to take several weeks before the aircraft are formally inducted into service.
HAL has maintained that a significant portion of the pending work falls under the purview of the Aeronautical Development Agency and relates to certification rather than manufacturing delays at HAL’s end.
Follow-On Orders and Future Production Plans
In November 2025, HAL signed an additional contract with GE Aerospace for 113 more F404-IN20 engines to support an expanded Tejas Mk1A programme, which now includes 97 aircraft.
Deliveries under this follow-on agreement are scheduled to begin in 2027 and continue through 2032. GE Aerospace has outlined plans to supply 20 engines in financial year 2026–27, with production expected to scale up to 30 engines annually from 2027–28 onward.
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