Origins
Programme sanctioned
The Government of India approves the Light Combat Aircraft programme to succeed the MiG-21 fleet.
ADA formed
The Aeronautical Development Agency is set up to lead the design, with HAL as principal partner.
First flight
Technology Demonstrator TD-1 flies for the first time from Bengaluru.
Named "Tejas"
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee names the LCA "Tejas", Sanskrit for radiance.
Into service
First orders
The IAF orders 20 Tejas to Initial Operational Clearance standard, then 20 more to Final Operational Clearance standard.
Initial Operational Clearance
IOC-II clears the Tejas for squadron service.
Inducted
No. 45 Squadron "Flying Daggers" becomes the first Tejas squadron.
Final Operational Clearance
FOC is granted at Aero India, adding air-to-air refuelling and beyond-visual-range missiles.
First air-to-air refuelling trial from an Il-78 tanker, September 2018.Photo: Ministry of Defence (GODL)
The Mk1A era
83 Mk1A ordered
73 fighters and 10 trainers.
Mk1A first flight
The first production Mk1A, LA-5033, flies in Bengaluru.
97 more Mk1A ordered
₹62,370 crore for 68 fighters and 29 twin-seaters.3
MiG-21 retires
The IAF retires the MiG-21 after 62 years — the aircraft the Tejas was conceived to replace.4
Nashik line opens
HAL's third Tejas production line lifts capacity to 24 aircraft a year.5
A water salute for the first Nashik-built Mk1A after its first flight.Photo: PIB / Ministry of Defence Mk1 order complete
The last two Mk1 trainers are delivered — 40 aircraft in all.1
Sources
- ThePrint — HAL hands over final two Tejas Mk1 trainers, Sep 2026. theprint.in
- PIB — LCA Navy lands on INS Vikrant, 6 Feb 2023. pib.gov.in
- PIB — MoD signs contract with HAL for 97 LCA Mk1A, 25 Sep 2025. pib.gov.in
- All India Radio — IAF bids farewell to the MiG-21, 26 Sep 2025. newsonair.gov.in
- PIB — Third LCA Mk1A line at HAL Nashik, 17 Oct 2025. pib.gov.in
- HAL Tejas — programme history. en.wikipedia.org