HAL on Tejas Crash: After the accident of LCA-Tejas at the Dubai Air Show, there was a lot of speculation about its future, HAL’s production capacity and export prospects. However, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has made it clear that this incident is only an isolated incident and there will be no impact on the company’s business operations, financial performance or delivery schedule. The company has given this information by writing a letter to BSE and NSE.
Importance and deployment of Tejas
LCA-Tejas was developed by HAL in collaboration with DRDO and was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016. At present the Air Force is operating two squadrons of Tejas. One is deployed at Sulur airbase in Tamil Nadu and the other at a forward airbase near the Pakistan border. Tejas also played an important role in airspace patrolling during Operation Sindoor.
LCA-Tejas crashed during the air show in Dubai on 21 November. The plane was being flown by Air Force Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who died in this accident. The Indian Air Force has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the causes of the accident.
After the accident, concerns came to light regarding the advanced version of Tejas and its export, because HAL is currently producing LCA Tejas Mark-1A for the Air Force and is also preparing to export it to many friendly countries. HAL clarified that the accident will not affect production, supply or future plans and the company is fully cooperating in the investigation.
Tejas Mark-1A production and engine supply
Last month itself, the first flight of the Mark-1A version of Tejas was successfully conducted in Nashik in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. In the year 2021, the Defense Ministry had signed a contract for 83 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft with HAL, but due to thaw in relations with the US and other formalities, the supply of GE F-404 engines was delayed by almost two years. Only 4 engines have been delivered so far.
In September 2024, the ministry signed an additional contract for 97 additional Tejas Mark-1As, which is expected to give the Air Force a total of 180 Tejas Mark-1As in the next decade. For these aircraft, HAL has signed a new deal for 113 additional F-404 engines with GE-Aerospace this month.
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