Inside HAL Tejas: Five Mk1A Jets Ready For IAF Delivery
Published on: Feb. 6, 2026, 2:17 p.m. | Source: Times Now
India’s indigenous light combat aircraft HAL Tejas stands at the forefront of the nation’s aerospace and defence ambition — a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the skies and a key fighter helping the Indian Air Force replace ageing jets that are being phased out. As of early 2026, the IAF operates around 38 Tejas aircraft across Mk1 and trainer variants, using the jet to rebuild fighter strength as older MiG-21 and MiG-27 fleets retire. At the same time, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has confirmed that five Tejas Mk1A fighters are fully ready for delivery, with nine more built and test-flown, marking an important step for a programme that faced production and engine-supply delays but is now moving steadily toward wider induction.
