Indigenous Tejas fighter boosts HAL's order book to record ₹2.7 lakh crore

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is gearing up for a massive scale-up in its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme, with deliveries and contracts aligning with India’s defence indigenisation drive.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, HAL CMD Dr. D.K. Sunil said the Tejas Mk1A is a capable 4.5-generation fighter jet, fully designed, developed, and manufactured within India, capable of firing beyond-visual-range missiles and laser-guided bombs. HAL will deliver the first Mk1A this month and three jets by October-end, with 10 aircraft already on the flight line.

HAL has invested ₹2,000 crore to expand capacity to three production lines, with the private sector adding a fourth, enabling output of up to 30 jets annually by 2027. The company expects to complete deliveries of 188 Tejas aircraft by FY32.

The Defence Ministry’s latest ₹62,370 crore order for 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters takes HAL’s total backlog to ₹2.7 lakh crore, projected by FY27. HAL has also concluded price negotiations with General Electric (GE) for 113 F404-IN20 engines worth over $1 billion, with the contract expected to be signed by October. Deliveries will begin in 2027-28.

Dr. Sunil confirmed that HAL is also eyeing future projects, including the LCA Mk2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with talks for 80% technology transfer of GE’s F414 engines. HAL has already received interest from 28 entities to collaborate on the fifth-generation AMCA programme, with partners likely to be finalised by October-end.

“This is a strong push for Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Sunil said, adding that HAL is on track to become a key global defence player while supporting India’s goal of self-reliance.