India’s defence modernisation program has reached a crucial juncture with the resumption of engine provides for the indigenous TEJAS MK-1A fighter jets, concurrent with accelerated procurement of superior weaponry together with Javelin missiles and ongoing trials of the Stryker fight automobile, signalling a complete effort to strengthen navy capabilities amid evolving safety challenges.
Engine Provide Disaster Resolved: TEJAS Program Again On Observe
The provision of GE F404-IN20 engines for India’s TEJAS MK-1A fighter jets has lastly resumed after a chronic two-year delay, with Common Electrical committing to ship two engines monthly till March 2026. This represents a major breakthrough for India’s flagship indigenous fighter program, which had been severely hampered by provide chain disruptions.
The engine supply disaster stemmed from a number of elements, together with the COVID-19 pandemic’s affect on world provide chains and the failure of a South Korean element provider. Common Electrical had shut down the F404-IN20 manufacturing line in 2016 after delivering 65 engines for the sooner TEJAS MK-1 program, making the restart significantly difficult.
The corporate confronted the complicated activity of re-engaging its world provide chain after a five-year dormancy interval, utilising its proprietary lean working mannequin referred to as “Flight Deck” to establish bottlenecks and enhance manufacturing processes.
The primary engine was delivered in April 2025, with one other anticipated by the top of July 2025. This resumption allows Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL) to proceed with its goal of delivering 12 TEJAS MK-1A jets in 2025. The Indian Air Power plans to induct a complete of 352 TEJAS plane, combining each MK-1A and MK-2 variants, with full-scale manufacturing projected to achieve 30 plane per 12 months by 2026-27.
HAL has been proactive in getting ready for the engine deliveries, setting up six airframes and establishing manufacturing capability at each its Bengaluru and Nashik services. The Nashik facility, HAL’s third TEJAS manufacturing line, is anticipated to roll out its first TEJAS MK-1A by the top of July 2025 and can initially produce 3-4 jets in its first 12 months, with a long-term capability of eight jets yearly. The corporate has additionally indicated that penalties could also be imposed on GE for not assembly the unique timeline, reflecting the intense affect of the delays on India’s defence capabilities.
Strategic Missile Procurement: Javelin Anti-Tank Techniques
India is pursuing a dual-track method to amass the famend Javelin anti-tank guided missiles from america, combining emergency procurement with long-term home manufacturing plans. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed that negotiations are underway for each speedy purchases and a bigger deal that would come with co-production preparations.
The Javelin system, developed collectively by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, represents a major functionality enhancement for India’s floor forces. This third-generation, fire-and-forget missile system provides a variety of two.5-4 kilometres and includes a top-attack profile with infrared steerage, making it extremely efficient in opposition to trendy armoured autos. The system has confirmed its fight effectiveness in conflicts together with Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, the place it earned recognition for its function in neutralising Russian armour.
India’s curiosity within the Javelin stems from pressing operational necessities, significantly in high-altitude areas like Ladakh the place tensions with China have continued because the 2020 Galwan conflict. In response to defence sources, India’s infantry has authorisation for between 3,000 and 5,000 ATGM launchers and greater than 200,000 missiles, however almost all present techniques are second-generation and outdated. A earlier shortfall of 68,000 missiles and 850 launchers has grown additional as current inventory reaches the top of its service life.
The procurement technique entails emergency purchases to deal with speedy operational gaps, whereas long-term negotiations concentrate on co-production with an Indian accomplice, doubtlessly Bharat Dynamics Restricted (BDL). A Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Javelin Joint Enterprise and BDL in February 2025 is evaluating native manufacturing choices to assist India’s “Make in India” initiative. Nevertheless, considerations persist in regards to the system’s excessive value—roughly $178,000 per missile and launcher—and the extent of expertise switch that will be offered.
Stryker Automobile Trials: Amphibious Necessities Drive Customisation
The US Stryker armoured combating automobile has undergone intensive trials in India, however the examined mannequin didn’t meet the Indian Military’s particular necessities, significantly relating to amphibious capabilities. Defence Secretary Singh indicated that the Indian Military is looking for an amphibious model of the system, which america will showcase in a future joint train.
The Stryker trials, carried out in Ladakh’s difficult high-altitude atmosphere, revealed important operational limitations. The automobile, powered by a 300-horsepower Caterpillar C7 engine, struggled with manoeuvrability within the oxygen-deprived circumstances at altitudes starting from 13,000 to 18,000 toes. Sources accustomed to the trials reported that the automobile skilled difficulties ascending even small inclines and suffered from frequent engine overheating as a consequence of diminished oxygen ranges.
Common Dynamics has responded to those challenges by proposing an improve to a 600-horsepower engine, with preliminary checks deliberate in america adopted by additional trials in India. Nevertheless, the dearth of amphibious functionality stays a major concern, as this characteristic is essential for India’s various operational necessities. The Indian Military goals to obtain roughly 530 infantry fight autos to exchange its ageing BMP-2 fleet below the Future Infantry Fight Automobile (FICV) program.
Regardless of these challenges, america authorised proposals in January 2025 enabling India to turn out to be the primary overseas producer of the Stryker armoured combating automobile. This initiative is a part of broader defence collaboration below the Vital and Rising Applied sciences (iCET) framework, which goals to strengthen joint improvement and diversify provide chains. The proposed phased rollout contains preliminary off-the-shelf acquisitions through the US Overseas Navy Gross sales framework, adopted by co-production in India and eventual co-development of variants.
Broader Defence Modernisation Context
These procurement initiatives happen in opposition to the backdrop of India’s urgent defence modernization wants. The Indian Air Power at the moment operates round 31 fighter squadrons in opposition to a sanctioned power of 42 squadrons, representing a shortfall of almost 200 plane. This hole is anticipated to widen as ageing plane just like the MiG-21s, MiG-27s, Jaguars, and early Mirage 2000s are retired, requiring the acquisition of roughly 450 new jets over the subsequent 15 years.
The federal government has additionally applied emergency procurement mechanisms to deal with speedy operational wants. Latest emergency procurements totalling ₹1,981 crore have been authorised for 13 forms of weapons and gear, together with built-in drone detection techniques, air defence techniques, and loitering munitions. These acquisitions replicate the Defence Ministry’s dedication to equipping forces with trendy, mission-critical techniques to fulfill rising safety challenges.
The Future Infantry Fight Automobile (FICV) program represents one other crucial modernisation effort, with improvement trials scheduled for September or October 2025. Two prototypes developed by Tata and Bharat Forge are nearing completion, promising enhanced firepower, mobility, and safety to deal with the restrictions of the BMP-2 autos which were in service because the Nineteen Eighties. This system goals to exchange over 2,000 Soviet-era BMP-II Infantry Combating Automobiles with cutting-edge, domestically manufactured fight autos.
The emphasis on co-production and expertise switch preparations, significantly with america, aligns with India’s broader defence industrial technique. These partnerships not solely tackle speedy operational wants but in addition contribute to long-term self-reliance targets below the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. The profitable implementation of those applications might be essential for sustaining India’s strategic autonomy whereas managing evolving safety challenges within the Indo-Pacific area.
The timeline for these initiatives suggests a coordinated effort to speed up defence modernisation, with the TEJAS program anticipated to achieve full manufacturing capability by 2026-27, Javelin procurement discussions advancing quickly, and FICV trials commencing later this 12 months. This synchronised method displays the urgency of India’s defence necessities and the federal government’s dedication to strengthening navy capabilities by means of each indigenous improvement and strategic partnerships.
Primarily based On ET Information Report
