Tejas Mk 1A set for missile test ahead of IAF delivery

The Tejas Mark 1A fighter jet is advancing to its next phase, with testing of its onboard missiles set to begin shortly. If all goes as planned, the first batch of these jets will be handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the coming months.

The aircraft is now ready for a ‘roll out,’ indicating that manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has completed testing on a number of planes for all required parameters. The next step involves validating the jet’s combat capabilities, with a crucial live firing test of the Astra Mk1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) scheduled for early August 2025.

This test marks a critical phase in integrating the advanced indigenous missile system with the upgraded Tejas Mark 1A. While the older version of the Tejas, around 40 of which are already in service with the IAF, has been successfully integrated with the Astra missile, the Mark 1A requires fresh validation due to its new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

The Astra Mk1, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a formidable all-weather, day-and-night capable air-to-air missile. Once integrated, it will enable the Tejas to engage and destroy hostile aircraft from a standoff distance, a critical capability in modern aerial warfare.

The upcoming test is part of the final stages of validating the Tejas Mark 1A’s enhanced weapons package. Initial deliveries were originally slated to begin in March 2024, but the programme faced delays, primarily due to supply of General Electric F404 engines.

HAL currently holds an order for 83 Tejas Mk1A jets under a 2021 contract, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2028. An additional order for 97 aircraft is anticipated to be finalized by the end of 2025, with deliveries starting in 2028 and concluding by 2031.