Tejas Mk-2 Under Fire Over Delays and Future Relevance

New Delhi, August 22, 2026 India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme is facing fresh questions over delays, technological progress and its ability to meet the future requirements of the Indian Air Force. In one of the strongest public criticisms of the Tejas programme, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired as the IAF Vice Chief less than two months ago, said the Tejas Mk-2 may no longer be operationally relevant in a frontline role by the time it begins entering service in significant numbers during the mid-2030s. Asked whether it made sense for India to operate a fourth-generation fighter in 2035 while China was moving towards sixth-generation platforms and Pakistan was considering fifth-generation jets, he gave a clear response: ''No, operationally, definitely No.'' While fifth-generation fighters combine stealth, sensor fusion and internally carried weapons, sixth-generation platforms are expected to expand these capabilities through AI-driven autonomy, drone wingmen and networked “system of systems” operations. India currently has neither fifth- nor sixth-generation fighter platforms, while some estimates suggest China could deploy 500 J-20 fifth-generation fighters by 2030. However, Kapoor said aircraft in the Tejas Mk-2 category could still play an important role despite not being at the cutting edge of military aviation. ''You can have a certain number of those 5th generation & 6th generation fighters, but given the size of the country, you won't be able to deploy them everywhere. So those gaps which continue to remain to be filled will have to be filled by this class of aircraft.'' The former Air Marshal also strongly criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), particularly over the lack of Tejas Mk-1A fighters available to the IAF in significant numbers, describing the situation as a ''huge'' concern. He questioned the continued delays in delivering the promised aircraft and capabilities, asking, ''Why must it be that a machine that was promised to us so many years back with a certain set of capabilities continues to be denied to us on one pretext or the other?'' He further added, ''Why must we be hamstrung because someone somewhere has not been able to keep their promises?'' Although Kapoor strongly supported the development of indigenous fighter aircraft, he raised concerns about how long the IAF could continue waiting for these programmes to deliver results. ''Indigenous is the way to go without a doubt but how long do we keep waiting?'' The Tejas prototype first flew in 2001, following which the IAF ordered 40 Tejas Mk-1 aircraft. In 2021, it placed an order for 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighters in a deal worth around Rs 46,000 crore, followed by an announced order for another 97 aircraft worth Rs 62,370 crore on 25 September 2025. However, the Mk-1A programme has faced delays linked to the supply of General Electric F404-IN20 engines and ongoing integration issues involving radar, avionics and weapons systems. Meanwhile, the Tejas Mk-2 has also missed several earlier targets, with its first flight now expected between March and July 2027. Kapoor said, ''Their (HAL's) sense of urgency is not equal to the sense of urgency of the Indian Air Force,'' adding, ''The kind of urgency that they show for the job that they do is way far lesser than what we would like to have in the Indian Air Force.'' The concerns surrounding India’s fighter programmes also extend to the AMCA, the country’s first indigenous stealth fighter, which could take years to complete development and trials and may face challenges in meeting its initial technology benchmarks. Kapoor believes India should explore partnerships with international sixth-generation fighter programmes instead of moving gradually through successive generations of aircraft. ''There are other things that are happening - why not FCAS? Why not GCAP? Why not join in on any one of those programmes?'' he said. He added, ''You are probably going with a consortium which has got a good record of delivery, of development. Why go through this Gen 4, Gen 4.5 steps when you know the next best thing is already being thought of and why not just join up there?'' With projects such as FCAS and GCAP targeting the next generation of combat aviation, Kapoor’s remarks have brought the larger challenge into focus: India’s push for self-reliance remains essential, but the pace of development and delivery will be equally critical in ensuring that its future air power does not fall behind evolving regional threats.