A senior IAF officer evaluates the fifth generation fighter program in Bengaluru

A senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officer on Thursday visited various aerospace manufacturing and research and development facilities in Bengaluru to get an overview of the ongoing domestic programs and production capabilities.

Air Chief Marshal (AOC-in-C) Southern Air Command Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann visited Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

According to the Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Mann worked with Amitabh Saraf, PGD (Combat Aircraft) and Director, other senior leadership and reviewed presentations on design and development programs including the AF Mk-II LCA and the Fifth Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). He also visited the VR Lab.

ADA will execute the AMCA program through an industrial partnership and three entities, Larsen and Toubro-Bharat Electronics Limited, Tata Advanced Systems and the Bharat Forge-BEML consortium, have been shortlisted for the stealth fighter program to be inducted into the IAF in the next decade.

At HAL, the AOC-in-C worked with Ravi K., Chairman and Managing Director of the PSU and other senior officers.

He also visited the LCA aircraft division and manufacturing facilities and during a meeting with HAL officials emphasized the importance of timely delivery of LCA Tejas Mk1A aircraft to meet the operational requirements of the IAF.

There was a delay in the delivery of the LCA Mk-1A variant to the IAF, which was blamed on delays in the delivery schedule of GE engines for the original fighter.

In February 2021, the Ministry of Defense signed a ₹48,000 crore contract with HAL to procure 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF.

Under the contract, HAL will manufacture 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 Trainer aircraft. The delivery of all 83 aircraft was to be completed in eight years from the date of signing the contract.

HAL was to deliver the first three aircraft in the third year and 16 aircraft annually for the next five years.

Published – 03 Oct 2026 0:56 IST