Air Force Tejas Mk1: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022

[Anoop]

There was no way to order more than a tranche of 40 for a Mk1 version at that time - when, as the Mk1A which is yet to arrive is itself a compromise of the GSQR - so that's not the issue here. If true, it points to a yet to be mature manufacturing process, perhaps for composites.

[ritesh]

Gobermint instead of roping in pvt sector for amca paper plane, they should immediately get them involved in building 1-2 additional assembly lines for mk1a.

Things are not looking up or favourable for indigenous plane as of now.

[williams]

Posting here to invite comment on an extraordinary claim at the 23:20 minute mark, that the 40 Tejas Mk1 were essentially bespoke "hand made" items rather than an output of an assembly line of standardized tooling and practices. I find that hard to believe m but if true, the challenges to scale up are substantial.

Highly probable that the claim is true. When a pittance of just 40 aircraft was ordered, this is what will happen.

A fully integrated assembly line with high level automation will cost you anywhere between 10-20 billion USD (90k to 180k crore). What we have is more of Russian type assembly line.

[pravula]

Who in their right mind will build an assembly line for 40 aircraft? That would be stupid and will get the entire management team fired.

[Bharadwaj]

https://x.com/HALHQBLR/status/2025860349564707070

HAL acknowledges the recent media reports on the LCA Tejas incident and wishes to provide factual clarification. There has been no reported crash of the LCA Tejas. The event in question was a minor technical incident on ground.

LCA Tejas maintains one of the world’s best safety records among contemporary fighter aircraft. As a standard operating procedure, the issue is being analysed in depth and HAL is working closely with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for a speedy resolution.

A certain section of so called defence twitter lobby (a bunch crackpots IMHO) and a few jurnos seem intent on targeting the tejas and HAL as we get closer to mk1a induction. This was just a regular operational issue. Why it was leaked and by who needs to be investigated by MOD and DEF SEC.

[Aditya_V]

https://x.com/VishnuNDTV/status/2025871337294831710

HAL denies that an IAF Tejas crashed. Sources also tell me there was no ejection. The aircraft was on its take off run possibly when something happened. Salvaging the aircraft not ruled out yet but details of its condition are not available.

If the engine and fuselage are reasonably fine, since wings and other systems are produced in India, this Aircraft will most probably be repaired and inducted. But clearly there is a lobby out to get Tejas based on the reports.

[ritesh]

Who in their right mind will build an assembly line for 40 aircraft? That would be stupid and will get the entire management team fired.

Saar, I mean to say IAF can only consider if their is a certainty of delivery. Atm, everything from HAL seems to be in the air. No doubt GE also partly responsible for this state.

[Rakesh]

A certain section of so called defence twitter lobby (a bunch crackpots IMHO) and a few jurnos seem intent on targeting the tejas and HAL as we get closer to mk1a induction. This was just a regular operational issue. Why it was leaked and by who needs to be investigated by MOD and DEF SEC.

Kahani mein twist

Indian Air Force grounds Tejas jets after crash earlier this month
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/a ... 2026-02-22
23 Feb 2026

[Aditya_V]

Rakesh ji, Vishnu Som and HAL deny any ejection, IAF has not published any crash and pilot ejection, Martin Baker will published if there was a seat ejection, in the absence of these where is source for the pilot ejection and airframe write off in the articles, such reports are not accidental.

[A_Gupta]

What Microsoft Copilot says about it: essentially the design kept getting adjusted.

Why early Tejas Mk1s felt “hand‑made”

The first 40 Tejas Mk1 aircraft (the IOC and FOC batches) came from what HAL called Limited Series Production (LSP) and then a low‑rate initial production line. In practice, that meant:

1. Tooling and jigs were still evolving

HAL did not yet have a fully mature, high‑throughput assembly line.
Many fixtures, jigs, and processes were being refined while aircraft were being built.
This naturally leads to more manual fitting, adjustments, and rework.

2. Subsystems were not standardized

The Mk1 program spanned many years of development, and suppliers changed.
Avionics, wiring looms, and even structural elements saw incremental updates.
That meant each aircraft required individualized integration work.

3. Documentation and processes were still stabilizing

A mature production line relies on stable, repeatable work instructions.
Early Tejas production involved iterative engineering changes, which slows down standardization.

4. HAL’s production rate reflected this reality

For years, HAL produced Tejas at 2–3 aircraft per year, which is characteristic of a developmental or semi‑handcrafted process rather than a true assembly line.

So while “hand‑made” is an exaggeration, it captures the idea that these aircraft required significant manual craftsmanship and bespoke adjustments, far more than a mature fighter production line like the F‑16, Gripen, or Rafale.

[uddu]

It's not a landing issue at all, the fighter veered off the runway while taking off. There was a report of tire burst reported in earlier news reports as well. This could be the reason. When a tire burst happen, even a truck lose control and go off the road.
https://x.com/i/status/2025993682219082000
@ShivAroor
On Feb 7 at Naliya Air Base, Gujarat, Tejas jet veers off runway during take-off roll, severely damaged.

Pilot escaped without serious injury, but aircraft a write-off.

Tejas fleet grounded for safety checks since then.

Facts on my show tonight:

[Bharadwaj]

A certain section of so called defence twitter lobby (a bunch crackpots IMHO) and a few jurnos seem intent on targeting the tejas and HAL as we get closer to mk1a induction. This was just a regular operational issue. Why it was leaked and by who needs to be investigated by MOD and DEF SEC.

Kahani mein twist

Indian Air Force grounds Tejas jets after crash earlier this month
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/a ... 2026-02-22
23 Feb 2026

https://theprint.in/defence/iafs-tejas- ... n/2861880/

Sources in the defence and security establishment said a decision is yet to be made on the frame of the aircraft involved in the incident, adding that a cost calculation and other assessments will be carried out before deciding whether to salvage it or write it off.

The preliminary assessment is that a sudden technical issue cropped up when the aircraft was on a take-off run. The technical glitch, it is suspected, was related to the brakes which caused a tyre burst. This led to the aircraft to steer off the runway.

It is much ado over nothing.

[Manish_Sharma]

https://x.com/Defencecore/status/202586 ... 63530?s=20

HAL has clarified that there was no LCA Tejas crash.

Only a minor technical issue on the ground was reported.

Media outlets that falsely reported it as a crash must be held accountable, and the author of the article should be jailed.
----------------------

https://x.com/HALHQBLR/status/2025860349564707070?s=20
HAL acknowledges the recent media reports on the LCA Tejas incident and wishes to provide factual clarification. There has been no reported crash of the LCA Tejas. The event in question was a minor technical incident on ground.

https://x.com/HALHQBLR/status/2025860351926186170?s=20
LCA Tejas maintains one of the world’s best safety records among contemporary fighter aircraft. As a standard operating procedure, the issue is being analysed in depth and HAL is working closely with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for a speedy resolution.

[Rakesh]

Tejas skips major fire power demo exercise following recent accident
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/de ... titial.cms
24 Feb 2026

[Rakesh]

IAF’s Tejas fleet undergoes ‘maintenance check’, decision on airframe yet to be taken
https://theprint.in/defence/iafs-tejas- ... n/2861880/
23 Feb 2026

The 7 February incident involving Tejas aircraft caused severe damage to its frame. IAF and HAL are working together as part of the Board of Inquiry (BoI) to probe the incident.

[Manish_P]

^ Pilot safe. I read that he didn't have to eject. That's good.

[Rakesh]

Software glitch behind Tejas Feb 7 mishap; entire fleet to get update
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india ... et-update/
12 March 2026

Exhaustive checks were ordered after jet suffered third mishap

https://x.com/ajaynewsman/status/203192 ... 02192?s=20 ---> A software glitch in the onboard computer caused the IAF's Tejas crash on February 7. The entire fleet of 35 Tejas fighter jets in IAF underwent ‘exhaustive checks’. Software upgraded and now being tested.

[pravula]

Software is ADA’s responsibility, right?

[Rakesh]

Tejas Fleet To Get Upgrades After Feb Incident Grounded Fleet

The IAF and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have jointly developed and are trialling a software upgrade after a February 7 Tejas ground incident, which investigations found was not due to mechanical or metallurgical failure. The IAF ordered exhaustive checks and has convened a Court of Inquiry; HAL called the event a minor technical incident. This was the third Tejas accident since 2016, following a March 2024 crash with successful ejection and a fatal November 2025 crash. Of 40 ordered jets, 38 are with the IAF; two were lost, and one airframe’s fate is pending. Deliveries of 180 Tejas Mark 1A jets are about two years behind schedule.