Air Force Tejas Mk1A: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022

[ritesh]

The Elta EL/M-2052 radar is currently not installed on any Israeli airforce aircraft.

A banger of a post! Thank You. +108 to you!

Saar, will Americans allow them to replace radar on any of f16 or f15?

[Rakesh]

Saar, will Americans allow them to replace radar on any of f16 or f15?

No.

Uttam should have been installed in the very first Tejas Mk1A as mody stated above. The longer the delay in the Mk1A induction, more stronger the case becomes for 114 Rafales.

[VinodTK]

If you do a root cause analysis of the current problems/challenges being faced by HAL programs they all point to one persons incompetence and that honor goes to ex HAL chief Dr. D.K. Sunil who retired on April 30th 2026.

His own HAL work (IAF required deliverables) was/is not complete yet he never addmitted it and used the delay in GE engines delevery as shield to hide behind his own failures.

To top it all he went on a trip to USA just before retirement to visit GE engine plant and came back with same old story 2 engines per month will be delivered. Impact of putting incompetent men in position of power.

[Rakesh]

Please no more discussions on politics in the Tejas Mk1A thread. Thank You.

Posts have been moved to this thread ---> viewtopic.php?t=7603&start=280

[Rakesh]

https://idrw.org/astra-mk1-extended-ran ... -km-d-max/

Reports of Astra Mk1 ER with 160 km range to be tested from Tejas MK1A and Su-30MKI in May to Jun 2026.

Pls don't quote IDRW. This rag that now uses AI to generate all its content, was the one that spread the news that the Tejas Mk2 prototype was just around the corner for it's first flight. Now it turns out roll-out itself will happen by the third quarter of this year and FF by March 2027.

Uddu has been reminded multiple times to not post articles from IDRW and Defence.in, but he will not listen

[Rakesh]

IAF willing to compromise further on Tejas Mk1A but red lines remain. Delivery still delayed
https://theprint.in/defence/iaf-willing ... d/2938583/
22 May 2026

New concessions are expansion of those agreed upon earlier between IAF & defence ministry. Red lines relate directly to aircraft’s combat capability.

[williams]

IAF willing to compromise further on Tejas Mk1A but red lines remain. Delivery still delayed
https://theprint.in/defence/iaf-willing ... d/2938583/
22 May 2026

New concessions are expansion of those agreed upon earlier between IAF & defence ministry. Red lines relate directly to aircraft’s combat capability.

Very clear article on the system integration software issues.

From the article:

Sources said the IAF would begin aircraft acceptance trials after HAL, at next month’s review meeting, confirmed that critical pending integration work had been completed. The trials typically take roughly a month.

So my guess is we should have the first Mk1A squad ready by IAF day (Oct 8th). Delayed but not dead

HAL is slowly becoming screwdrivergiri only company.

[Cybaru]

So my guess is we should have the first Mk1A squad ready by IAF day (Oct 8th). Delayed but not dead

HAL is slowly becoming screwdrivergiri only company.

Neither software nor hardware for critical stuff is easy... I wish we had done this with uttam as that will take tuning and refining too...

[williams]

So my guess is we should have the first Mk1A squad ready by IAF day (Oct 8th). Delayed but not dead

HAL is slowly becoming screwdrivergiri only company.

Neither software nor hardware for critical stuff is easy... I wish we had done this with uttam as that will take tuning and refining too...

I wished the same. But its ok, lets get the birds operationalized with the Israeli stuff for now and take the time to get Uttam integration. Who would have thought we will have 2 years delay in delivery.

[VinodTK]

IAF willing to compromise further on Tejas Mk1A but red lines remain. Delivery still delayed

:
:
The earlier schedule outlined by former HAL CMD D. K. Sunil included a critical review meeting on 9 May 2026, by which HAL was expected to complete major pending works.

Kota has since informed the IAF that essential integration tasks, including linking the Israeli AESA radar with weapon firing controls and the electronic warfare suite, remain unfinished.
:
:
The repeated revision of delivery timelines by HAL’s previous leadership has created frustration within the defence establishment.

There is now a growing perception that earlier public assurances were aimed more at maintaining HAL’s stock price than reflecting the true state of the program.

HAL has consistently cited delays in engine deliveries as the principal reason behind slippages. But ThePrint earlier reported that the problems run much deeper. The engine issue merely became the most visible explanation masking wider integration and systems-related delays.

I thought stock manipulation is a crime punishable by law!

[Tanaji]

There is no point blaming HAL. A dogs tail will always remain crooked. The fault lies entirely with Rajnath Kadi Ninda Singh and Modiji for tolerating this nonsense for so long.

Legions of HAL directors have perfected this technique of promising x , announcing paper products like Lift, Sport, Orca but delivering zilch. If a RM still believes their bs after being deceived so many times, the RM deserves it.

[VinodTK]

There is no point blaming HAL. A dogs tail will always remain crooked. The fault lies entirely with Rajnath Kadi Ninda Singh and Modiji for tolerating this nonsense for so long.

Legions of HAL directors have perfected this technique of promising x , announcing paper products like Lift, Sport, Orca but delivering zilch. If a RM still believes their bs after being deceived so many times, the RM deserves it.

++100% true
Unfortunately the country has been left naked with just 29 squadrons.
Wonder why the opposition does not bring this up in the parliament and
raise stink on the topic.

[uddu]

What we need is a problem solver at the leadership level. There seems to be 0 oversight from the minister when it comes to what is happening on the ground. He seems to be less interested in these things. Especially the decision made in terms of choosing the Israeli Radar over Uttam. These kind of decisions are left to HAL. RS don't seem to have a clue when brand new Tejas were made available for testing the Israeli radar while the same was denied to DRDO for Uttam. These kind of decisions by HAL must have raised red flags at the MoD and by the Mnister himself. He seems to have less clue than us Jingoes on what need done. Very serious matter this is.
Two issues exist. One now the issues with Israeli radars and it's integration need to be completed properly by our engineers. More trouble could crop up in the future as well, when something new need to go into Tejas MK1A. So it's necessary to ensure that Uttam goes right into MK1A's, atleast from the 31st onwards. Already 30 Tejas is said to be ready. For this DRDO need to be brough in to ensure the integration goes smooth. So that 6 engines delivered can be fitted on to 31st onward Tejas and they can be delivered with the Uttam radar before the current software update needed for Israeli radar is fixed. Seeing the inept DM we have, I doubt that will happen.
A bold and sane decision will be to cancel the Israeli radar order and start replacing it with Uttam right away and start delivering the planes, faster than the September timeline. Seeing the kind of things that need integrated with the new Israeli radar, I don't think the timeline will even stick to September. This is going to go on till 2027. IAF will be forced to fly the aircraft without the software update and the issues unresolved into 2027. So Uttam and only Uttam is the right solution. We need R. K. S. Bhadauria as our DM ASAP. Someone who has inside in and out knowledge on How forces work with technical knowhow of things and a leader. Only in India Civilians end up as DM's the ones who took interest learn and understand and help in correct decision making. But it's always good to have DM's from the Armed Forces also as it brings their expereince and knowhow on war fighting will be a better DM than a civilian one. Something similar to a Dr.SJaishankar being a better FM.

[bala]

We keep blaming all the wrong things in the troika of babus, IAF the consumer and HAL the producer. Mantriji who don't understand defence matters are placed in charge is the other component. But the Babu is the one that requires all the blame since IAF and HAL and even mantriji report to this dude who is supposed to be brightest wick since he/she passed the wonder bar exam called IAS. Look at how babus fade into the background whenever there there are issues with the look on their face "Why me worry". Tis the babu who needs to be blamed. He knows what is happening and he has the wherewithal to correct whatever the issue. But he is disinterested, happy to collect his pension and paycheck and fade away. Isnt the babu the overall program manager and he does not know issues and does not know how to fix them (what happened to the wonder bar IAS IQ test of India). Pathetic.

[uddu]

There need to be person who is knowledgable about technology and warfighting sitting over the babus and guiding them on what need done, and if found underperforming or taking wrong decisions, punishing them. We need such a DM.
MP was different, he could see the stupidity in importing trainer aircraft and could guide them and take a decision to make HTT-40 within India. Today we have the aircraft. Engines nah...he went too early before further decisions could strengthen the nation. Should we be trying out new indigenous engines as well and going on for the follow on order for the same? I don't think RS will be able to forsee things and take decisions like that.
Take the case of Corvette orders. There is a dearth of surface ships the size of corvettes or above joing the fleet from 2027 ownards for 6 longs years. What is expected is the about to be order placed NGC. The numbers are limited to 8 and for the time lost the same must have been raised quite high. But again decision paralysis. RS is taking some deicions but not looking into even near future and taking better calls is missing. We cannot have an average DM. We need Maverics. Defence cannot be ignored in Modi 3.0.

[ashthor]

Just start the meeting for consultation of cancellation of 2052 radar to be replaced by Uttam then see how fast
the issues get solved.

[S_Madhukar]

RS should have been Education or HRD ministry considering his background but look at the current ministers performance. Granted Babudom is generalists but then at least have a scientific trained RM. Vaishnaw would have been interesting but he is buried under 3 charges. Surely I agree above someone like Annamalai wouldn’t have been bad - he is IPS after all. You can’t do lateral induction for IAS at least try that in cabinet and see the results !

[williams]

I am sorry guys. We need to focus on the motivation of each of these groups. We cannot expect a RM who is a techno buff all the time. A RM can simply express his/her intend through policy review, and cannot baby sit technical and military people. MP ji is a rare phenomenon - cannot expect that all the time. Babus are administrative people, they can move papers, keep records and sign on dotted lines, they cannot take technical leadership decisions. The blame lies purely between HAL and IAF.

Questions is: are we seeing sinister motivation within the HAL leadership in going for Israeli RADAR? If not is it a honest mistake and they will have to find corrective action. If their technical leadership team is incompetent then we need to look for replacement/cleanup there.

Second what is IAF's motivation? Do you all see another sinister motive on their side to let indigenous products fail/get delayed so that they can import stuff? Then IAF needs cleanup.

IAS babus are generalist and cannot expect deep knowhow.

Remember it is under the same (and even worse) babus and RMs like Saint Antony we had Kalam's missile program. RM has shown intend in policy. If the technical and military folks sneak around it then no one can save our nation. Annamalai has the scientific and intellectual temper but is a chotu politically and it will not be possible to pull him in that easily.

[bala]

IAS babus are generalist and cannot expect deep knowhow.

This is the main issue with the IAS system, they become secretary of defence, without deep domain knowledge. No other nation allows such generalist to occupy high posts. In NASA an administrator has deep domain knowledge but can also handle program mgmt aspects. India has to revamp the IAS system and cannot continue this broken system.

The issue between IAF and HAL is very stand-off ish and not conducive. HAL is the producer and requires IAF to help test and adapt systems in an iterative manner. Nothing will get done to perfection on day 1 which is the attitude of IAF. You have to work with a system, test it, improve it and make things better, it requires lots of understanding and patience. Each side becomes defensive if there is no give and take or any understanding. So what if the Uttam Radar does not perform on day 1 with the IAF, they are not fighting an immediate war. Just take receipt and tell HAL to work on things and when each feature comes to fruition then Uttam Radar is done. No big deal. We need to stop this petulant behaviour by the IAF.