NEW DELHI: The largest contract for 97 Tejas Mark-1A fi-ghters, worth Rs 66,500 crore, is all set to be inked with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, though IAF is yet to get even the first such ‘improved’ jet of the 83 ordered earlier for Rs 46,898 crore in Feb 2021.The mega 97-jet contract for the fourth-generation Tejas could be inked as early as Thursday, a day ahead of the retirement of 36 old MiG-21s that will drag down IAF to its all-time low of 29 fighter squadrons (each has 16-18 jets), defence sources told TOI.Pakistan, in contrast, is cruising close behind with 25 fighter squadrons, and will get at least 40 J-35A fifth-generation Chinese stealth jets in the near future. China, of course, is leagues ahead, with more than four times the number of fighters, bombers and force-multipliers as compared to India.After Operation Sindoor, which saw Pakistan use Chinese-origin jets like J-10s armed with PL-15 beyond visual range air-to-air missiles with ranges over 200km, an IAF internal assessment has held it will need far more than even its “authorised” 42.5 fighter squadrons to tackle the collusive and fused threat from its adversaries. IAF has repeatedly set alarm bells ringing over the excruciatingly slow development saga of single-engine Tejas fighters, stressing that operational preparedness cannot be sacrificed at altar of ‘atmanirbharta’ endlessly. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh himself said IAF is “very badly off in numbers” and needs to induct at least 40 fighters every year to stay combat ready.All the 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets under the 2021 contract were to be delivered in the Feb 2024-Feb 2028 timeframe. The PM-led cabinet committee on security approved the acquisition of another 97 such jets on Aug 19 this year.”IAF was insistent that the new contract not be inked before deliveries of the earlier 83 jets begin, with HAL being held accountable. The defence ministry, however, must spend its budget within specified timelines,” a source said. HAL contends it will be able to deliver the first two of the 83 Tejas jets in Oct. Deliveries of the 99 GE-F404 turbofan engines by US firm General Electric, which HAL contracted for Rs 5,375 crore in Aug 2021, now appear to be stabilising, an official said.GE has delivered three engines, with another seven slated by Dec. Thereafter, GE is expected to deliver 20 engines every year. For the 97-jet deal, HAL will ink another deal with GE for 113 more such engines for $1 billion, as earlier reported by TOI. IAF, however, wants to accept the first two fighters only if ongoing firing trials of the Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, the advanced short-range air-to-air missiles and laser-guided bombs from them are successfully completed and properly certified.
