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Lethe

Captain
Is this US doing it intentionally, or GE just having issues (But GE has been having delays for years on the tejas engines)
I am guessing the delay is because of the engine. The engines deliveries have slowed down again to 1 per month now, will go to 2 per month from november onwards

The delivery delays relate to the supply of F404 engines for the LCA Mk. 1A program. While those delays are real, I doubt they are the sole limiting factor holding up the production and delivery of those aircraft, though HAL has certainly been happy to create the impression that that is the case. LCA Mk. 2 is intended to use F414 engines and that contract is still under negotiation. A handful of F414 engines have
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to support the LCA Mk. 2 development program so there is no excuse there.

LCA Mk. 2 is still a paper airplane at this point. More pressing are the questions of if HAL can get Mk. 1A production and deliveries on track and in service with IAF, and if GoI will actually commit to the follow-on order for an additional 97 Mk. 1As that has been mooted for some years now. Currently only 83 Mk. 1As are contracted. Plausibly those additional 97 Mk. 1As also held up by negotiations with GE/Washington re: additional F404s.
 
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Deino

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Tejas Mk2 rollout delayed by another 6 months to May of 2026. With first flight delayed to end of 2026 likely Q1 of 2027. At this rate the Indians will be lucky to receive an operational Tejas Mk-2 by 2032. Let alone have their AMCA stay on the planned timeline

Are any explanations given for this delay?

In fact "originally" (2022) HAL planned a roll out by December 2023 ... and this was step by step postponed to October 2025 (in 10.2024), by end of 2025 (2.2025) and now May 2026!

What are the excuses now?
 

phrozenflame

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I've been hearing of 126 MMRCA since I first joined PDF in 2003.
I remember when I joined PDF, PAF had no BVRs facing several squadrons of Sukhois, JF-17 was lagging behind Tejas and even Bisons were better armed than F-16s. What a turn around in 2 decades with much smaller budget. The magnitude of InAF's ineptitude cannot be expressed in words. But the even the better news is, InAF learned no lessons and continues to thrive in lala land.
 

Lethe

Captain
Are any explanations given for this delay?

In fact "originally" (2022) HAL planned a roll out by December 2023 ... and this was step by step postponed to October 2025 (in 10.2024), by end of 2025 (2.2025) and now May 2026!

What are the excuses now?

I recently posted about the ever-receding milestones for India's human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. I think the explanation here must go beyond individual persons, projects, and institutions. The truth is that much of the Indian government and PSU apparatus seems to have a systemic inability to set realistic timelines for project execution. While this is merely amusing and perplexing for external observers, it must also wreak absolute havoc for those in India attempting to engage in any kind of long- or even medium-term planning, with diverse consequences that we see today.
 
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Deino

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I recently posted about the ever-receding milestones for India's human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. I think the explanation here must go beyond individual personages, programs, and institutions. The truth is that much of the Indian government and PSU apparatus seems to have a systemic inability to set realistic timelines for project execution. While this is merely amusing and perplexing for external observers, it must also wreak absolute havoc for anyone attempting to engage in any kind of long- or even medium-term planning, with diverse consequences that we see today.


I think you are correct!

I actually think that's the point, which then begs the question: Why is this?! We actually see it in so many – actually all – programs, and Tejas is perhaps just a media-friendly example that's in the spotlight... if you look at the list (no guarantee of completeness), the list seems endless:

- Tejas = neverending story
- Uttam Radar ... above all, lots of wild promises, but the reality is, even the IAF prefers an Israeli AESA
- Super-30 / MKI-PLUS: similar! Lots of announcements without real results
- Rafale-N + Vikrant/Vikramaditya: ... to date, NO concrete idea of how they are supposed to operate from the carriers, as the elevators and the lower deck are simply too small/shallow!
- MRCA ... as I said, we're exactly where we were in January 2012, namely when the recommendation was made to buy and build more Rafales.
- FGFA ... exit in 2018, and now the purchase of Su-57E is being discussed again.
- TEDBF ... will probably end as a Tejas 3.4-story!
- new AEW ... endless story, but at least the decision was made for an A320-based model, current planning in three years from 2025! (?)
- New tankers ... as often as now, repeated tenders always with the surprisingly same result: A330 MRTT ... still no decision
- HJT-36 Sitara/Yashas: first flight in 2003 ... now planned as Yashas in 2026 in the form of four leased aircraft, no IAF order yet
- HTT-40 ... not quite as long in development
- Question about new C-17s: The fact that this keeps popping up is surprising, even though everyone knows the production line is closed and dismantled
- And we don't even need to talk about engines like the Kaveri

... in fact it is not only a mess, it's pure embarrassment!
 

HailingTX20

Junior Member
Registered Member
I think you are correct!

I actually think that's the point, which then begs the question: Why is this?! We actually see it in so many – actually all – programs, and Tejas is perhaps just a media-friendly example that's in the spotlight... if you look at the list (no guarantee of completeness), the list seems endless:

- Tejas = neverending story
- Uttam Radar ... above all, lots of wild promises, but the reality is, even the IAF prefers an Israeli AESA
- Super-30 / MKI-PLUS: similar! Lots of announcements without real results
- Rafale-N + Vikrant/Vikramaditya: ... to date, NO concrete idea of how they are supposed to operate from the carriers, as the elevators and the lower deck are simply too small/shallow!
- MRCA ... as I said, we're exactly where we were in January 2012, namely when the recommendation was made to buy and build more Rafales.
- FGFA ... exit in 2018, and now the purchase of Su-57E is being discussed again.
- TEDBF ... will probably end as a Tejas 3.4-story!
- new AEW ... endless story, but at least the decision was made for an A320-based model, current planning in three years from 2025! (?)
- New tankers ... as often as now, repeated tenders always with the surprisingly same result: A330 MRTT ... still no decision
- HJT-36 Sitara/Yashas: first flight in 2003 ... now planned as Yashas in 2026 in the form of four leased aircraft, no IAF order yet
- HTT-40 ... not quite as long in development
- Question about new C-17s: The fact that this keeps popping up is surprising, even though everyone knows the production line is closed and dismantled
- And we don't even need to talk about engines like the Kaveri

... in fact it is not only a mess, it's pure embarrassment!
If it doesn't get politically punished, then there's a huge incentive to constantly be talking about enormous projects that are just around the corner. Easy way to drum up jingoistic emotions and therefore heightened support.

The corrections usually don't get the same attention as the initial announcement, but even if they do, you're already closer to the new deadline so it doesn't seem so far off. And rinse and repeat.
 

Faisal Iqbal

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