HAL likely to deliver first Tejas MK 1A fighter to IAF by March 31

New Delhi: The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is working towards delivering the first TEJAS MK-1A fighter jet to the Indian Air Force by the end of this month.

The state-owned public sector unit is also working towards the delivery of the first twin-seater trainer version aircraft to the IAF at the earliest, according to the defence sources.

The work is on towards meeting the delivery by the end of March 31 and this would be a big boost for the indigenous fighter aircraft project where an advanced aircraft would be provided to the IAF, they said.

The Indian Air Force has already signed a contract worth over ₹48,000 crore with the HAL for supplying 83 TEJAS planes while there is clearance for buying 97 more of them at ₹65,000 crore.

The HAL has already carried out ground trials including slow taxi runs.

The TEJAS MK-1 aircraft were inducted into the IAF in 2016 and two of their squadrons including 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron.

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari had termed the clearance of the 97 TEJAS a “landmark event”.

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