New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Union Ministry of Defence have agreed to grant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) certain exemptions from contractual obligations, so that the long-pending delivery of the Tejas Mk1A can start early next fiscal year, ThePrint has learnt.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said that no compromises will be made on “must-have” capabilities in the aircraft—an understanding reached between the IAF, and Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL in 2016. ADA has designed the fighter jet, and HAL is the manufacturer.
Sources further told ThePrint that under the new understanding reached, IAF will accept the aircraft if ADA and HAL complete the missile firing tests, integration of radar to the Electronic Warfare systems, and the weapons package. They said that firing trials have been completed and the certification process is underway. They described the three tasks mentioned above as “completely essential” and non-compromising.
“The IAF has already granted exemptions to HAL for faster delivery of the aircraft, 180 of which have been ordered for,” a source said. IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft without completion of other pending work, which will take at least one year more to be completed, the sources added.
HAL has argued before the defence ministry and IAF that much of the pending work is being overseen by ADA, and is not a manufacturing delay. Major capabilities incorporated are undergoing the certification process and should be completed by April.
Following this, the IAF will undertake acceptance trials, which could last a few weeks.
The original plan was for the IAF to have 20 Tejas in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC), and 20 in Final Operational Clearance (FOC), before moving to the Tejas Mk2. But a compromise was reached in 2016 by then defence minister, Late Manohar Parrikar, to have the MK1A as the interim arrangement before the Mk2 came in.
The contract was finally signed on 3 February, 2021 for 83 Tejas Mk1A. ThePrint had then reported that the biggest worry for the IAF was the delivery of aircraft on schedule.
Incidentally, HAL is yet to deliver two of the remaining order of eight Tejas trainer aircraft as well—an order placed in 2010.
According to sources, a meeting was held between senior officials of IAF, defence ministry and HAL in December last year to review the project status. HAL had provided several timelines for completion of various aspects pertaining to the aircraft. Sources added that since most of the timelines indicated April, a decision was made to hold a review meeting in April for the project.
The timelines promised by HAL for completion of various aircraft systems ranged from a few months to over a year, sources further said.
As ThePrint reported earlier, the pending work can be divided into three categories: minor, major, and not acceptable. Interestingly, earlier this month, HAL had issued a statement, confirming that “five aircraft are fully ready for delivery, incorporating major contracted capabilities in accordance with the agreed specifications”.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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