New Delhi: The Indian Air Force on Wednesday said that the first light combat aircraft Tejas Mk1A is likely to be received by November this year, after missing the February 2024 deadline.

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A source in the defence and security establishment said that the plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has promised that it would deliver the first aircraft by November.

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The source further added: “HAL had promised that it would deliver 16 aircraft this fiscal year but “we do not see we would be able to receive even 8 jets this fiscal.”

The IAF is currently grappling with depleting squadrons of fighter jets. He said: “We are pushing for 8 planes this fiscal year.”

It should be noted that the HAL has been facing issue with the supply of engines from General Electrics.

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Besides, the source said that there are several issues other than engines which the plane maker has to address. It also includes design and development.

The GE has not so far delivered a single F404-IN20 engine that powers the jets.

“Engine is the larger issue and behind it all other problems are hidden,” he said.

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As per the media reports, GE had cited supply chain as the issue for delay in delivering the engines to the HAL.

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The design and development issue would take time to be done, another source said.

They also added that the HAL had to deliver 10 LCA Tejas trainer jets but only five have been delivered to the IAF.

For IAF, it’s a matter of concern as the two squadrons of Russian-origin MiG-21 Bisons will be retired.