Latest news with #Mk-1A
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Pending defence sales figure in India-US talks
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth expressed the hope that Washington would clear several pending defence sales to India in the near future, during a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth.(Getty Images via AFP) 'The United States is very pleased with the successful integration of many US defence items into India's inventory. And building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US defence sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial cooperation and co-production efforts, strengthen interoperability ... between our forces, and then formally sign a new 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership ... which we hope to do very soon,' Hegseth was quoted as saying by the Department of Defence. At present, India is looking for the execution of two key defence projects with America. The first is the quick delivery of GE F404 fighter jet engines for India's Tejas MK1A Light Combat Aircraft. In 2021, India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ordered 99 F404 engines from General Electric. So far, GE Aerospace has delivered only the first of 99 F404 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Mk-1A fighters and is now ramping up production to fulfill the Indian order. These engines are designated for the 83 Mk-1A aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force for ₹ 48,000 crore in February 2021. The Indian Air Force is also planning to place an additional order for 97 Mk-1A jets, estimated at around ₹ 67,000 crore. The second key project India hopes to push with America is the speedy execution of a deal between HAL and GE Aerospace for the joint production of GE F414 engines, which are expected to power India's more advanced Tejas LCA Mk-2 fighter jet programme. The deal will involve 80% transfer of technology (ToT) and is estimated to be worth around $1 billion. Hegseth's meeting with Jaishankar followed a telephonic call with defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday. Hegseth and Singh agreed to meet in-person after the former invited the defence minister to visit the United States. The focus of India-US defence cooperation will be on increased defence industrial cooperation, including the co-production of Javelin missiles and Stryker armoured combat vehicles. Greater defence interoperability and increased joint military exercises will also be a key focus, according to India's Ministry of Defence. During his meeting with Hegseth, S Jaishankar pointed to progress in the bilateral defence relationship through the recent signing of the Security of Supply Agreement, cooperation in underwater domain awareness and the new INDUS-X defence industrial initiative. 'The world is a complicated place and perhaps growing in its complexity. And certainly our partnership and the contribution that we can make together, I think, would be of immense importance, not just for us, I think, but for the larger region and I would even argue for the world,' Jaishankar told Hegseth.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India to get Tejas Mk1A this fiscal: Here is how it compares with China's JF 17, Rafale, F-16
HAL CMD D K Sunil has stated that the Indian Air Force will receive at least six Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets by March 2026. The Tejas Mk-1A, India's indigenously developed single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, is designed to operate in high-threat air environments and carry out air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions. 'The Tejas Mk-1A is a world-class aircraft comprising a high-quality radar, electronic warfare suites and an array of missiles,' Sunil said. 'It has got a full complement of avionics and weapons which make the aircraft a very potent platform. It will be very good for our Air Force,' he added. In February 2021, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹48,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets. The ministry is now processing an additional deal to acquire 97 more aircraft at a cost of around ₹67,000 crore. According to Sunil, the Mk-1A will replace the Indian Air Force's ageing MiG-21 fighters and is a key component of India's effort to achieve greater self-reliance in defence production. Specification Tejas Mk1A Dassault Rafale F‑16 Block 70 JF‑17 Block III FA‑50 Golden Eagle Country India France USA Pakistan / China South Korea Manufacturer HAL / ADA Dassault Aviation Lockheed Martin PAC / Chengdu KAI / Lockheed Martin Number Built 51 ~240 ~3,100 177 ~220 Orders 180 (83 + 97 cleared) 234 (including India) 112 50–60 export orders 48 (Poland), 18 (Malaysia) Length 43.3 ft 50.2 ft 49.3 ft 47.0 ft 43.0 ft Wingspan 26.9 ft 35.8 ft 31.0 ft 31.0 ft 31.0 ft Height 14.4 ft 17.5 ft 16.7 ft 15.0 ft 16.2 ft Empty Weight 6,560 kg 10,300 kg 9,207 kg 7,965 kg 7,200 kg Max Payload 5,300 kg 9,500 kg ~7,700 kg 3,700 kg ~4,300 kg MTOW ~13,500 kg 24,500 kg 21,772 kg 13,500 kg 12,300 kg Engine 1 × GE F404-IN20 2 × Snecma M88-2 1 × GE F110-GE-129 1 × Klimov RD-93MA 1 × GE F404 or EJ200 Max Thrust 84 kN 150 kN (combined) 129 kN 84.4 kN ~98 kN Fuel Capacity – 4,700 L internal 7,000 L ~3,000 L 2,990 L Ferry Range ~3,000 km 3,700 km 4,220 km 3,482 km ~1,852 km Max Speed 2,200 km/h (Mach 1.8) 1,912 km/h (Mach 1.8) 2,414 km/h (Mach 2.0+) 1,975–2,200 km/h (Mach 1.6–1.8) 1,837 km/h (Mach 1.5) Service Ceiling ~15,000 m 15,240 m 18,300 m ~16,700 m 14,630 m Unit Cost US $39–42 M US $90–100 M (estimated) US $50–60 M ~US $25 M US $30 M by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Belly Fat Removal Without Surgery in Philippines: The Price Might Surprise You Belly Fat Removal | Search Ads Get Info Undo Dassault Rafale The Dassault Rafale, produced by France's Dassault Aviation, is a twin-engine 4.5-generation fighter known for its versatility, nuclear capability, and use by several NATO and allied air forces. The Indian Airforce operates 36 of these jets and the Indian navy has also ordered 26 of its maritime variant. Live Events F-16 The F-16 Block 70 is the latest and most advanced variant of the widely exported American single-engine fighter, offering improved radar, avionics, and combat range. JF-17 The JF-17 Block III, a product of collaboration between Pakistan and China, is a cost-effective, single-engine multirole fighter aimed at meeting the operational needs of developing air forces. FA-50 The FA-50 Golden Eagle, jointly developed by South Korea's KAI and Lockheed Martin, is a lightweight supersonic fighter and trainer aircraft tailored for air policing, light attack, and lead-in fighter training missions. HAL Tejas vs Pak F-16 One of the key comparisons being drawn around the Tejas Mk-1A is with the US-made F-16, which continues to form the backbone of Pakistan's fighter fleet. While the F-16 remains a capable platform, many of the aircraft in Pakistan's inventory date back to the 1980s. In contrast, the Tejas Mk-1A features modern avionics, advanced electronic warfare systems, and an indigenously developed AESA radar, which enhances its tracking and targeting performance. IAF squadrons numbers IAF is looking at inducting different types of fighter jets as the number of its fighter squadrons has gone down to 31 from officially sanctioned strength of 42. The government recently gave the clearance to HAL to start work on India's fifth generation aircraft called Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The air force is expected to by 120 AMCA aircrafts and 324 Tejas aircrafts over the coming years. GE F404 engine delay HAL CMD D K Sunil attributed the delay in Tejas Mk-1A production to the inability of GE Aerospace to supply F404 jet engines on schedule. 'The engine deliveries have not happened from GE Aerospace. They were to deliver the engines in 2023. Till date, we have got only one engine,' he said. Sunil explained that the delay was initially caused by production setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by the departure of several senior engineers from GE, which led to cascading supply chain disruptions. However, he confirmed that the technical and logistical issues have now been resolved, and HAL expects to receive 12 engines by March 2026.
Business Upturn
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Hindustan Aeronautics shares in focus as Tejas Mk-2 rollout gets delayed to 2026
Shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) slipped over 1% on Tuesday to ₹4,994.50 after fresh updates from the Paris Airshow revealed further delays in the rollout timeline for the much-anticipated Tejas Mk-2 fighter jet. According to HAL Chairman Dr. DK Sunil, as shared in an interview with aviation journalist Atul Chandra, the structural assembly of the first Tejas Mk-2 prototype is currently underway, but the aircraft's rollout is now targeted for 2026—pushing back earlier expectations. The stock came under pressure despite HAL's parallel announcement that two existing production lines for Tejas Mk-1A are already operational in Bengaluru, with a third one being established in Nashik. This is aimed at ramping up production capacity to 24 aircraft annually. The first Mk-1A from this third line is expected in 2025. Our dear friend, aviation enthusiast and cheerful Atul Chandra @CheckSix_Bison , Editor at GBP Daily News (Show dailies from the Paris Airshow) just interviewed HAL Chairman Dr. DK Sunil (in Pix 1). Some important takeaways! LCA Mk.1A: HAL has established two production lines… — Vayu Aerospace Review (@ReviewVayu) June 18, 2025 HAL's market cap currently stands at ₹3.34 lakh crore. The delay in the Mk-2 project, seen as a strategic defence initiative, could impact medium-term sentiment, even though the broader outlook for HAL remains robust amid increasing defence indigenisation.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
First Nashik-produced LCA Mk-1A set for maiden flight in July
The first light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) built at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's new production line in Nashik is set to make its maiden flight in mid-July, and the state-owned plane maker is targeting delivery of the first LCA Mk-1A produced in Bengaluru to the Indian Air Force in July-August after a delay of almost 16 months, officials aware of the matter said on Monday. HAL can build 16 Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik production line will help it boost production to a total of 24 jets. To be sure, the Bengaluru-produced LCA Mk-1A flew for the first time in March 2024. 'The Nashik production line will roll out four to five Mk-1A fighters this year, followed by eight annually next year onwards. It will help us make up for the delay in deliveries due to factors including US firm GE Aerospace's inability to supply F404- IN20 engines on time and some pending certifications,' said one of the officials cited above, asking not to be named. IAF is concerned about the current pace of the LCA Mk-1A programme because of the possible risks a delay in the induction of new fighters could pose to its combat effectiveness. The air force ordered 83 Mk-1A fighters for ₹48,000 crore in February 2021 and plans to buy 97 more Mk-1As at a cost of around ₹67,000 crore. The first of the 83 jets on order was to be delivered to the IAF by March 31, 2024. The last of the 83 jets are to be delivered by 2028-29. 'HAL has so far manufactured six LCA Mk-1As in Bengaluru to execute the 83-aircraft order. One of these, equipped with GE's F404-IN20 engine, is expected to be delivered to the IAF in July-August. We have sufficient capacity to offset the delay once the engine supplies stabilise,' said a second official, who also asked not to be named. GE Aerospace delivered the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL in March. The second engine is expected to be delivered in July, followed by two every month until December, the officials said, adding that deliveries will be accelerated next year onwards. With no additional engine orders, the production line for F404-IN20 in the US was shut down. However, when HAL ordered an additional 99 engines in 2021 for the LCA Mk-1A, the US firm began the complex task of restarting the production line, which had been dormant for five years, and re-engaging the engine's global supply chain. In May, IAF voiced its frustration over the delays in key projects. The chief of the air staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh then put the spotlight on the armed forces' agonising wait for new weapons and systems, saying he could not recall a single instance of a project being executed on time, in what was seen as a wake-up call for the country's defence production sector. 'Timelines are a big issue,' Singh said at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025. The air force is grappling with a shortage of fighter jets and operates around 30 fighter squadrons compared to an authorised 42. The armed forces have so far not called 'the black sheep' out, but their 'restraint' should not be stretched to a breaking point, Singh said, issuing a veiled warning to defence public sector units including HAL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation among others. Singh has often publicly flagged concerns about a worrying erosion of IAF's capabilities and called for urgent measures to fix it. In February, he questioned the ability of HAL to meet the air force's critical requirements in the backdrop of the lingering delay in the supply of new Mk-1A fighter jets, saying he had 'no confidence' in the plane maker. HAL chief DK Sunil then responded by saying that his company's focus is on delivering the LCA Mk-1A to the IAF at the earliest rather than spending time on countering criticism of the indigenous programme. The LCA is set to emerge as the cornerstone of IAF's combat power as the world's fourth largest air force is expected to operate around 350 LCAs (Mk-1, Mk-1A and Mk-2 variants) in the coming decades. The Mk-1A, a 4.5 generation fighter, will come with digital radar warning receivers, external self-protection jammer pods, superior radar, advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles, and significantly improved maintainability. On June 11, a top IAF officer said precision weapons, such as the ones used by IAF against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor rendered geographical barriers almost meaningless and altered the relationship between distance and vulnerability. 'Today, precision-guided munitions like Scalp and BrahMos (missiles) have rendered geographical barriers almost meaningless as strikes with beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and supersonic air-to-ground missiles have become commonplace,' said Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, chief of integrated defence staff. Modern warfare -- thanks to technology -- has fundamentally altered the relationship between distance and vulnerability, he added. In March, a top government committee recommended a raft of short and long-term measures to boost the capabilities of IAF and pointed out that it was critical to enhance self-reliance in the aerospace sector through increased participation of the private sector to fill critical gaps. Steps are being taken to boost private participation in the aerospace sector. Last month, India unveiled its long-awaited plan to fast-track the development of an indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, or the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA), announcing that the execution model will be competitive and provide equal opportunities to public and private sector firms to participate in one of the country's most significant military projects. The approval of the industry partnership model by defence minister Rajnath Singh came at a critical moment as HAL --- the sole manufacturer of fighter jets in the country --- was till then believed to be the frontrunner for the project. While the model unlocks new possibilities for the local aerospace industry, including firms like Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Adani Defence and Aerospace and the Mahindra Group; HAL is still a strong contender for the project, as earlier reported by HT.
India Today
30-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Tejas Mk-1A jet delivery deadline missed again: Here's how timeline unfolded
Amid growing concerns over delays in India's indigenous fighter jet programme, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Thursday urged the defence industry not to make promises it cannot deliver on time. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry's Annual Business Summit 2025, the Air Force chief underscored that "timeline is a big issue" — a sharp reminder of the Indian Air Force's mounting frustration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) over the delayed delivery of Tejas Mk-1A fighter three months ago, the IAF chief had publicly voiced concern about the slippage in deadlines. On paper, HAL was to deliver the first of 83 LCA Mk-1A jets by March 31, 2024, under a Rs 48,000 crore deal signed in February 2021. That did not happen.A STALLED TIMELINEThe Tejas Mk-1A — a more advanced variant of the LCA Mk-1 — has faced persistent delays, largely due to late engine deliveries from GE Aerospace and protracted certification processes. The first F404-IN20 engine for the Mk-1A aircraft was delivered only in March 2025, nearly two years behind schedule. The delivery, part of a USD 716 million contract for 99 engines, was hailed as a 'milestone' by GE Aerospace's Combat & Trainer Engines General Manager Shawn Warren, who said it would "ensure a strong future for India's military". But for HAL, it was only the beginning of a race to recover lost PUSH AFTER ENGINE BOTTLENECKSadvertisementFollowing the arrival of the long-awaited engines, HAL has ramped up its production capacity by restructuring its Bengaluru facility and adding a parallel assembly line. The goal now is to deliver at least 16 Tejas Mk-1A jets annually, aiming to complete the 83-aircraft order by Chairman Dr DK Sunil had earlier assured that with engine supplies stabilising, the production of Mk-1A jets would gather pace. "We have now promised that we will have all the Mk-1A structures ready. Once the engines are available, the Mk-1As will start rolling out," he said at Aero India ORDERS IN PIPELINEDespite the initial hiccups, the IAF is gearing up to place a follow-on order for 97 more Mk-1A aircraft, estimated at Rs 67,000 crore, which would bring the total fleet size to 180. In parallel, a mega Rs 1.3 lakh crore deal for 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) for both the IAF and Indian Army is expected to be finalised within the next six has committed to delivering all 180 Tejas Mk-1A fighters by 2031, with a consolidated production capacity of 16 to 24 aircraft annually beginning delays come at a time when the IAF is retiring ageing aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-27, and Jaguars, leaving its squadron strength critically depleted. Without the timely induction of Tejas Mk-1A, the gap between required and available fighters continues to widen — raising serious questions about India's aerial combat PANEL FORMEDadvertisementTo address these systemic delays, the Ministry of Defence had constituted a five-member Defence Empowerment Committee led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The committee recommended a slew of short, medium, and long-term solutions — including involving private players in the LCA production companies are now contributing critical components such as fuselages. Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Pvt Ltd recently handed over the first rear fuselage of the Mk-1A to HAL, with more scheduled to follow. Deliveries of the aircraft will now be streamlined across three separate HAL production lines.
