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HAL's Game-Changer: Nashik-Made MK1A's Maiden Flight Signals Air Power Shift
The first Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft assembled at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Nashik facility has completed its maiden flight, marking a key step in India's indigenous light combat aircraft programme. The sortie took place soon after the commissioning of new Tejas and HTT-40 assembly lines at the facility.
The aircraft took off following final system checks and clearances from the Aeronautical Development Agency and the Indian Air Force. Upon landing, it received a ceremonial water cannon salute, marking the debut of the Tejas Mk1A from HAL's newly inaugurated Nashik line.
First Tejas Mk1A Fighter from Nashik Completes Maiden Flight. Image Source: PTI
The Nashik complex is now India's third Tejas production line, joining two others already operational in Bengaluru. HAL expects the additional line to produce up to eight aircraft annually, raising the overall output to twenty-four jets per year once production stabilises.
The Tejas Mk1A is powered by the GE F404-IN20 engine and carries several upgrades over the Mk1 variant, including a new radar, advanced avionics, and an integrated electronic warfare suite. These enhancements build on the proven 9840-kilogram platform developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency.
The Nashik line was established to accelerate deliveries under the 2021 contract between HAL and the Air Force for eighty-three Tejas Mk1A fighters, valued at roughly ₹46,900 crore. The original delivery schedule had aimed for the first aircraft in early 2024. The same facility will also produce the HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
That production plan for the Tejas plan was delayed by supply constraints in imported components, including the GE F404-IN20 engines and radar systems. The first engine batch reached HAL only in March 2025, nearly two years behind plan, disrupting assembly sequencing and integration across the initial production lot.
Before induction into operational service, the Tejas Mk1A will undergo extensive trials covering radar validation and weapon integration. These include tests with the Astra beyond-visual-range missile, short-range air-to-air missiles, and precision-guided munitions.
The formal induction of the Tejas Mk1A into Indian Air Force service will hinge on the outcome of these trials, whose results will determine whether the aircraft is cleared for full operational deployment.
Earlier, HAL had successfully conducted the first test flight of a Tejas Mk1A prototype from Bengaluru in March 2024. The eighteen-minute sortie, flown by test pilot Air Commodore K.K. Venugopal (Retd), verified the upgraded flight control and avionics systems before production expansion began.
The Nashik-built Mk1A follows the same baseline design as the Bengaluru prototype and includes improved maintainability features to reduce turnaround time between sorties. It also introduces updated communication and data-link systems to support modern combat network operations.
The Tejas programme remains central to India's self-reliance drive in defence manufacturing. With the Nashik line now operational, HAL plans to scale production capacity further while continuing work on upcoming projects such as the Tejas Mk2 and the Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter.
Tejas MK1A Highlights
| Specification | Tejas Mk1A |
|---|---|
| Engine | GE F404-IN20 Afterburning Turbofan |
| Thrust | 84 kN (with afterburner) |
| Radar | Uttam AESA Radar |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 1.8 (≈2,200 km/h) |
| Combat Range | 500 km (typical mission profile) |
| Ferry Range | 1,700 km (with drop tanks) |
| Service Ceiling | 50,000 ft (15,240 m) |
| Maximum Payload | 3,500 kg (weapons and external stores) |
| Armament Compatibility | Astra BVR missile, Python-5, R-73, precision-guided bombs |
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