Fighter Aircraft
HAL Tejas
The HAL Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta-wing light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Developed under the Light Combat Aircraft programme to replace the MiG-21, it is one of the smallest and lightest supersonic fighters in service.
India|HAL & ADAOverview
The Light Combat Aircraft programme began in the early 1980s, and technology demonstrator TD-1 first flew on 4 January 2001. The Tejas was formally inducted in January 2015, and No. 45 ‘Flying Daggers’ Squadron formed in 2016. It uses a tailless compound delta wing, fly-by-wire controls and extensive composites. A GE F404 engine gives a top speed of about Mach 1.6, and eight hardpoints carry around 5,300 kg of weapons, including Derby, Python-5 and Astra missiles and laser-guided bombs.
HAL completed the first 40 Mk1 aircraft around 2024. India ordered 83 improved Tejas Mk1A in 2021 and 97 more in September 2025, but GE F404 engine supply delays slowed deliveries, and HAL said in May 2026 they would begin around August–September 2026. The larger Tejas Mk2 with a GE F414 engine is in development. The Indian Air Force is the only operator, as export pitches to Malaysia, Argentina, Egypt and others have not yet produced a contract. A Tejas crashed at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025.
Key Specifications
Variants
Tejas Mk1: the initial production version with the Elta EL/M-2032 radar, ordered in a batch of 40 aircraft including trainers.
Tejas Mk1A: an improved version with the EL/M-2052 AESA radar and upgraded avionics, with 180 ordered and deliveries expected from 2026.
Tejas Mk2: a larger medium-weight fighter with canards and the more powerful GE F414 engine, expected to roll out and fly around 2026.
Operators
IndiaFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a Tejas cost?
A Tejas Mk1A is estimated at roughly ₹500–600 crore per aircraft including the support package, based on Indian contract figures. The 2021 order for 83 jets was worth about ₹48,000 crore and the 2025 order for 97 about ₹62,000 crore.
How fast is the Tejas?
The Tejas Mk1 has a top speed of about Mach 1.6, or around 1,975 km/h. It has a combat radius of about 500 km, a ferry range of about 3,000 km with drop tanks and a service ceiling of about 16,000 m.
How many Tejas does India have?
About 45 production Tejas Mk1 aircraft had been built for the Indian Air Force by 2024, flown by No. 45 and No. 18 squadrons. Another 180 Tejas Mk1A are on order, but deliveries have been held up by GE engine supply problems.
Tejas vs JF-17: which is better?
The Tejas has a lighter composite airframe, a fly-by-wire delta wing and, on the Mk1A, an AESA radar, while Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder is cheaper and has already been exported. Both are light fighters, and a direct comparison depends on version and weapons.
Which countries use the Tejas?
Only India uses the Tejas, with the Indian Air Force as its sole operator. HAL has offered the fighter to Malaysia, Argentina, Egypt, the Philippines, Nigeria and others, but no export contract has been signed; Malaysia chose the KAI FA-50 in 2023.
Is Tejas a 4.5 generation fighter?
The Tejas is generally described as a 4th/4.5-generation light fighter. It is not stealthy, but it uses fly-by-wire controls, composites and, on the Mk1A, an AESA radar. India’s stealth fighter project is the separate Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
