As of September 10, 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has 50 Tejas fighter jets in its inventory. These include 16 Tejas Mark 1 aircraft in Initial Operational Capability (IOC) standard and 34 Tejas Mark 1 aircraft in Final Operational Capability (FOC) standard.
The IAF has also placed an order for 73 Tejas Mark 1A aircraft and 10 Tejas Mark 1 trainer aircraft. The Tejas Mark 1A is an upgraded version of the Tejas Mark 1 with improved avionics, radar, and weapons. It is expected to be delivered to the IAF starting from 2024.
The IAF plans to procure a total of 324 Tejas aircraft in all variants. This includes 126 Tejas Mark 2 aircraft, which is an advanced version of the Tejas Mark 1A. The Tejas Mark 2 is expected to be ready for production by 2026.
The Tejas is a single-engine, multirole combat aircraft that was developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. It is powered by a General Electric F404-GE-IN20 engine and has a top speed of Mach 1.6. The Tejas is equipped with a variety of weapons and sensors, including the Astra air-to-air missile, the Derby air-to-ground missile, and the Litening targeting pod.
The Tejas is the first indigenously developed fighter aircraft of the IAF. It is a major milestone in India’s efforts to become self-reliant in defense production. The Tejas is expected to play a significant role in the IAF’s fleet for many years to come.
