HAL Tejas

HAL Tejas is a single-engine, delta-wing, multirole light fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It was designed under the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program initiated in the 1980s to replace the aging MiG-21 fleet, with its design carried out by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Named after the Sanskrit word for "radiance," the aircraft made its first flight on 4 January 2001 and entered service with the Indian Air Force on 17 January 2015. Thanks to its lightweight structure, composite airframe and advanced flight control systems, it is a highly maneuverable platform suited for modern reconnaissance and air combat missions.

HAL Tejas M22 color rendering (DeviantArt) HAL Tejas Mk2 Technical Sketch (DrawingDatabase)

History

The LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas project was launched in the 1980s under the leadership of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to meet India’s need for a domestically produced combat aircraft. After a prolonged development phase, prototype flights began in the early 2000s. One of the first major milestones for the Tejas was the delivery of the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) certificate to the Air Force Chief by India’s Defence Minister A.K. Antony on 10 January 2011. This ceremony marked a critical step toward transitioning the aircraft into series production. In the following years, HAL began delivering Tejas aircraft to the Indian Air Force, with the first Tejas Mk1 aircraft entering IAF inventory in 2015.

One of the early prototype models developed under the project (Flickr)

Operational History

The HAL Tejas is actively serving with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The first Tejas squadron, No. 45 “Flying Daggers” Squadron, became operational at Sulur Air Force Base on 1 July 2016. The second Tejas unit, No. 18 “Flying Bullets” Squadron, was established in May 2020 with Tejas Mk-1 aircraft meeting the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) standard. The IAF has also showcased the Tejas in domestic and international air shows and exercises, including its first flight on foreign soil during the Desert Flag exercise.

Applications

Tejas aircraft are primarily operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF deploys Tejas Mk1/Mk1A aircraft as multirole fighters for air superiority, air support and reconnaissance missions. A major contract was signed in 2021 with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft, and a procurement process has also been initiated for an additional 97 Mk1A aircraft. The Tejas Trainer (two-seat) variant, produced by HAL, is used for pilot training, enabling new pilots to complete both flight and tactical training on this platform.

The next phase of the HAL Tejas program, the Tejas Mk2 variant, is currently under development and is planned with enhanced features such as increased range and payload capacity. However, on 21 November 2025, it was officially confirmed that a Tejas aircraft crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show, resulting in the death of the pilot.

Technical Specifications

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Length: 13.2 m
• Wingspan: 8.2 m
• Height: 4.4 m
• Wing area: 38.4 m²
• Empty weight: 6,560 kg
• Maximum takeoff weight: 13,500 kg
• Engine: 1× GE F404-GE-IN20 turbofan (≈ 85 kN thrust)
• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (≈ 1,960 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 15,200 m
• Combat radius: ~500 km
• Ferry range: ~1,700 km
• Weapon stations: 8
• Radar: Uttam AESA (Mk1A)
• Avionics: Glass cockpit, electronic warfare system, SDR