India’s TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft: Three Decades of Development Hurdles

The HAL TEJAS, India’s indigenous light combat fighter, has faced a protracted
journey since its conceptualisation in the early 1980s, often sensationalised
as being "stuck on the ground for 33 years".

This narrative stems from the project’s sanction in 1983 to replace ageing
MiG-21s, yet full operational capability remains elusive even in 2026. While
the aircraft achieved its
The HAL TEJAS, India’s indigenous light combat fighter, has faced a protracted
journey since its conceptualisation in the early 1980s, often sensationalised
as being "stuck on the ground for 33 years".

This narrative stems from the project’s sanction in 1983 to replace ageing
MiG-21s, yet full operational capability remains elusive even in 2026. While
the aircraft achieved its
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