HAL Chooses Israeli Radar and EW Systems for All 73 Tejas Mk1A Jets Amid Indigenous Systems Facing Certification Delays

In a move that reflects the growing tension between operational urgency and self-reliance in India's defense sector, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has decided to equip all 73 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets with Israeli-made radar and electronic warfare (EW) systems. This decision marks a major deviation from earlier plans to incorporate Indian-developed technologies, specifically the Uttam AESA radar and Swayam Raksha Kavach (SRK) EW suite, from the 41st aircraft onward.

The Tejas Mk1A is a significantly upgraded version of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. Designed to replace aging MiG-21 fighters in the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Mk1A boasts improved avionics, radar systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and weapon integration. It is viewed as a critical component in strengthening India's air combat capabilities in the coming years.

However, HAL has now issued a Letter of Intent to Israeli firm ELTA Systems for supplying all 73 jets with the ELM-2052 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Scorpius-SP electronic warfare pod. These systems are known for their reliability and have already been tested in various operational environments. While the ELM-2052 radars will be assembled in India under a technology transfer agreement, the core technology remains foreign—a fact that has reignited debates about India's path to defense self-reliance.

Technical Highlights

• ELM-2052 AESA Radar:
  A multi-mode fire control radar with advanced air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea capabilities. It supports multiple target tracking, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, and delivers superior situational awareness, even in dense electronic warfare environments. Its high power and digital beam steering make it particularly suitable for modern air combat missions.

• Scorpius-SP EW Suite:
  An advanced self-protection pod designed to detect, identify, and counter threats such as radar-guided missiles. It uses digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) techniques and is capable of jamming multiple threats simultaneously, offering the pilot enhanced survivability in contested airspace.

Meanwhile, DRDO’s Uttam AESA radar and SRK EW suite—the indigenous alternatives—have reportedly completed multiple successful trials. DRDO officials claim the radar was cleared for production in 2023, and that HAL had been advised to begin preparations for integration. However, HAL cited delays in final certification and integration validation, which, it argues, could not be aligned with the IAF’s urgent need to induct the Tejas Mk1A into service without further slippage.

The situation underscores the challenges in synchronizing development timelines between public-sector R&D institutions and state-run production agencies. While DRDO maintains that additional time would have enabled deployment of the indigenous systems, HAL has prioritized assured delivery and combat-readiness, especially as the aircraft faces tight induction schedules.

Adding further complexity to the project is a delay in the supply of F404 engines from GE Aerospace, which are critical to powering the Tejas Mk1A jets. These delays threaten to cascade into production timelines, making timely deployment of the full fleet even more difficult.

Ultimately, the choice of Israeli systems for all 73 aircraft ensures the IAF receives fully capable fighters without risking further delays. But it also reflects the persistent struggle in turning India’s ambitious “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) vision into operational reality, particularly in the demanding domain of frontline military aviation.

As India continues its push to reduce foreign dependency in defense manufacturing, the Tejas Mk1A case illustrates how operational priorities, technology maturity, and bureaucratic hurdles must be balanced carefully to achieve long-term strategic goals.