What Is the Tejas? India’s Home-Grown Light Combat Aircraft
The Tejas is India’s home-grown light fighter, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). About 40 of the original Mk1 version are in service, and the air force has ordered 180 of the improved Tejas Mk1A, which it needs urgently to replace retired MiG-21s. But by October 2026 not a single Mk1A had been delivered, more than two years late, and the delay has become one of the biggest problems facing the Indian Air Force.
This guide explains the Tejas, its versions, why it is late and what comes next.
What is the Tejas?
The Light Combat Aircraft programme began in 1983 to replace the MiG-21. The resulting aircraft, named Tejas (“radiance”) in 2003, first flew in January 2001. It is a small, single-engine delta-wing fighter that makes heavy use of composites and has a fly-by-wire control system. It reached initial operational clearance in 2013 and full operational clearance in 2019. Its long development made it a symbol both of India’s aerospace ambitions and of the difficulty of realising them.
| Version | Status | Engine | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tejas Mk1 | In service, about 40 | GE F404 | Two squadrons |
| Tejas Mk1A | 180 ordered; deliveries delayed | GE F404-IN20 | AESA radar, better electronic warfare |
| Tejas trainer | In service and on order | GE F404 | Two-seat version |
| Tejas Mk2 (Medium Weight Fighter) | In development | GE F414 | Larger, more capable; first flight planned later this decade |
| Naval LCA | Prototype only | GE F404 | Proved carrier operations; not ordered |
The Mk1A and its delays
The air force ordered 83 Tejas Mk1A in February 2021 and 97 more in September 2025, together worth more than 1.1 trillion rupees. The Mk1A adds an Israeli-designed active electronically scanned array radar, a new electronic warfare suite and improved maintainability. The first delivery was due in March 2024. Supplies of GE F404 engines from the United States were delayed for more than a year, and even after engines arrived, clearing the radar, weapons and software took longer than expected. In October 2026 the air force chief said the programme was about two years behind schedule and that the delay “is going to hurt us”. The aircraft’s maker is profiled in our article on HAL, and the engine issue in our report on the Tejas Mk1A engine delay.
Tejas Mk2
The Tejas Mk2, or Medium Weight Fighter, is a larger aircraft with the more powerful GE F414 engine, more internal fuel and the ability to carry heavier weapons, intended to replace the Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 in the 2030s. India and GE agreed in 2023 to build the F414 in India. The Mk2 is planned to fly later this decade. India’s longer-term stealth fighter, the AMCA, is the subject of the next article in this series.
How does it compare?
The Tejas is in the same class as the Swedish Gripen C and the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17. It is more modern than the JF-17 in some respects, with greater use of composites, but it has a shorter range and payload than larger fighters. Its main rival in the region is Pakistan’s JF-17, compared in our profile of the JF-17 Block III. India’s wider fighter fleet is covered in our guide to Indian fighter jets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tejas?
A light, single-engine fighter designed in India by the Aeronautical Development Agency and built by HAL.
How many Tejas does India have?
About 40 Tejas Mk1 fighters are in service, and 180 Tejas Mk1A have been ordered.
Why is the Tejas Mk1A delayed?
Delays in supplies of the GE F404 engine and in clearing the aircraft’s radar, weapons and software.
What engine does the Tejas use?
The American GE F404. The larger Tejas Mk2 will use the GE F414, which is to be built in India.
Is the Tejas better than the JF-17?
The two are in the same class. The Tejas uses more composites and modern systems, while the JF-17 is cheaper and has been exported more widely.
When will the Tejas Mk2 fly?
Its first flight is planned for later this decade.
- SSBCrack – IAF down to 29 fighter squadrons as A.P. Singh flags Tejas Mk1A delays (October 2026): ssbcrack.com
- ThePrint – With MiG-21’s exit, India’s squadron strength hits six-decade low. What are IAF’s plans for the Tejas: theprint.in
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited – official website: hal-india.co.in
