HAL expands LCA Tejas production as India aims to showcase fighter jet on global stage

India's aspiration to become a net exporter of arms is contingent upon its ability to sell the indigenous Tejas aircraft to friendly foreign nations. However, this ambition has been on hold for at least a decade, as the manufacturer of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is currently occupied with supplying these fighters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and developing the Mk2 variant.

Several nations have expressed interest in LCA Tejas, and India is eager to showcase the aircraft at International air shows and bid for contracts abroad to gain experience in competing with other aircraft in foreign tenders. The latest nation to express interest in LCA Tejas is Nigeria, which is exploring a potential US$1-billion deal with India to boost its military-industrial complex. However, the specifics of Nigeria's interest in the LCA—whether it aims to procure it for its armed forces or pursue industrial cooperation with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)—are yet to be finalised.

Global interest in Tejas aircraft grows, but actual purchases await 

Earlier this year, during an official visit to India by Argentinian Defence Minister Jorge Taiana, Argentina also indicated its interest in acquiring the Tejas aircraft for its Air Force. While this news made headlines in India, the manufacturer was somewhat surprised by the announcement.

Nigeria and Argentina are among several nations worldwide that have expressed 'interest' in the Tejas program but have not yet committed to purchasing the 'Made in India' combat jets. Other countries from Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia have also displayed interest in India's LCA program.  

In August 2022, India's Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, disclosed that the United States, Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines were among six nations that had expressed interest in India's Tejas aircraft. Argentina and Egypt were also on the list, signalling the growing global appeal of the Tejas.  

Malaysian bid highlights India's Tejas export efforts  

The most significant attempt by India to pitch the Tejas for sale to a foreign nation was in response to the Malaysian Air Force's 2021 tender for 18 combat aircraft. Malaysia issued a Request for Information (RFI) in February 2019, and India responded by offering a twin-seater trainer variant of the Tejas. 

In October 2021, India received a Request for Proposal (RFP), with Tejas being one of the two aircraft selected from eight global aerospace firms. However, South Korea's KAI-built FA-50 ultimately secured the US$920-million deal, marking a setback for HAL. Despite the challenge of securing export orders for Tejas, HAL remains committed to showcasing India's capabilities in the global fighter jet market.

The primary challenge, however, is HAL's capacity to manufacture sufficient Tejas aircraft to meet both domestic and potential foreign demand. HAL has delivered 40 Tejas aircraft to the IAF, consisting of 20 Tejas Mk1 Initial Operational Clearance variants and 20 Final Operational Clearance variants. Production has begun on the 83 Tejas Mk1A variants, with deliveries scheduled to begin in February 2024. HAL has expanded its production capabilities, with the capacity to build 16 aircraft annually. Additional work is underway to establish a third assembly line, enabling HAL to manufacture 24 jets each year soon.