Tejas Light Combat Aircraft

The HAL Tejas is India's indigenously designed and manufactured light combat aircraft, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The Tejas Mk1 entered operational service with the Indian Air Force, and HAL has orders for 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft — an upgraded version with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare suite, and mid-air refueling capability.

The Tejas program took decades — development began in 1983, with the first flight in 2001 and operational induction in 2016. Critics point to the extended timeline, but the achievement is significant: India is now one of a handful of countries that can design, develop, and manufacture a modern combat aircraft. The Tejas uses a domestically developed fly-by-wire flight control system, composite airframe (45% composite materials by weight), and an indigenous electronic warfare suite.

Export potential is growing. Countries including Malaysia, Egypt, and Argentina have expressed interest in the Tejas, attracted by its competitive pricing (roughly $50 million per aircraft, versus $80-100 million for comparable Western fighters). The success of indigenous weapons systems during India's May 2025 Operation Sindoor further boosted international confidence in Indian defense products. The Tejas Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) — a fifth-generation stealth fighter — represent the next steps in India's combat aircraft ambitions.