As of late December 2025, reports confirm that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided not to place follow-on orders for the Tejas Mk1A beyond the 97 aircraft already contracted. Instead, the IAF is prioritizing the operationalization of the existing fleet and accelerating the development of the more advanced Tejas Mk2.
Here is a breakdown of the situation based on the latest defense updates:
1. No Further Orders for Tejas Mk1A
The IAF has reportedly shelved plans to order additional Tejas Mk1A jets beyond the cumulative 180 aircraft already on order (83 from the 2021 contract + 97 from the 2024 contract).
- Reasoning: The decision is driven by significant delivery delays from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), primarily caused by supply chain issues with the General Electric F404 engines.
- Focus on Delivery: Senior IAF officials have stated that the priority is to ensure the smooth delivery and integration of the jets already ordered before committing to more numbers. The IAF wants to avoid an accumulation of paper orders without a corresponding delivery rate on the ground.
- Current Status: HAL has revised its delivery targets downward for the financial year 2025-26, aiming to deliver only about 5 fighters instead of the originally planned 10-12, due to the engine shortage.
2. Shift to Tejas Mk2 Development
The “strategic shift” mentioned in reports refers to the IAF pivoting its long-term planning toward the Tejas Mk2, a Medium Weight Fighter (MWF) that offers significantly higher capabilities than the Mk1A.
- Capabilities: The Mk2 will be larger, powered by the more powerful GE F414 engine, and feature greater range, endurance, and a payload capacity of roughly 6.5 tonnes (nearly double that of the Mk1A).
- Timeline:
- Rollout: The first prototype is expected to be rolled out by late 2025 or early 2026.
- First Flight: The maiden flight is scheduled for 2026.
- Induction: The IAF aims to induct the Mk2 by 2028-2030.
- IAF’s Role: To prevent the delays seen with the Mk1 program, the IAF has adopted a “co-developer” role for the Mk2. This involves active participation in the development phase to fast-track weapons integration and testing, ensuring the jet is combat-ready upon induction.
3. Operationalizing the Current Fleet
With the Jaguar fleet aging rapidly, the IAF is focused on replacing two Jaguar squadrons with the incoming Tejas Mk1As starting around 2028. The current focus is on:
- Completing weapon trials for the Mk1A (progressing well as of late 2025).
- Setting up base infrastructure and training pilots/ground crew to absorb the 180 Mk1As as they are delivered.
In summary, the IAF is pausing further Mk1A acquisitions to force a stabilization of the supply chain and is betting its future medium-combat capability on the timely arrival of the Tejas Mk2.
