Overview
- HAL said Thursday that the grounded Tejas Mk‑1 fleet will return to service from Wednesday, April 8, after a brake‑related software fix was cleared by a joint Local Modification Committee.
- GE Aerospace confirmed delivery of a sixth F404‑IN20 engine, handed over in the United States, but only six of 99 engines have arrived against the 2021 order.
- HAL has invoked contractual liquidated damages on GE for the late engines, with the firm assuring about 20 more units by year‑end as production ramps up.
- HAL and the Indian Air Force plan a programme review in late April or May to lock a revised Mk1A delivery timeline, with missile‑firing trials, radar–electronic warfare integration, and full weapons validation set as mandatory gates.
- HAL says about 20 Mk1A airframes are built pending final radar software and missile tests, a pace that matters as the IAF fields roughly 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned 42.5 and HAL can produce about 24 jets a year.