A Tejas light fighter jet crashed in early February 2026 while landing after a training flight at an Indian Air Force base.
The information is provided by The Economic Times he announced, citing his own sources linked to the defense sector.
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The pilot ejected successfully and was not seriously injured. Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft has sustained significant structural damage and is expected to be withdrawn from service.
The Air Force has already launched official investigations and a comprehensive inspection of the entire fleet.
India currently has about 32 pieces Tejas Mk-1 operates a version. It’s the accident LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) affected its single-seat configuration.
The incident is the third recorded loss in a relatively small fleet, adding further pressure to the program.
The incidents of the last period
The new accident joins two previous significant events:
on March 12, a Tejas crashed near Jaisalmer during a training flight; the pilot ejected successfully even then.
on November 21, during the Dubai Airshow presentation, a Tejas went into an uncontrollable dive at low altitude and crashed. The crash killed the pilot and raised international questions about the type’s reliability.
The Dubai disaster had a particularly direct impact on the export perception of the aircraft.
Report points to structural deficiencies
An audit by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) identified 53 significant deficiencies in the Mark-I variant that directly affect combat value. The main findings are:
- Excess weight and limited thrust, which reduces speed and maneuverability.
- Insufficient protection of the cockpit and fuel system.
- Internal restrictions that prevented the full deployment of self-defense systems.
- The proportion of domestic parts is actually around 35%, below the originally announced 70%.
- Foreign dependence increases vulnerability.
The strong dependence on foreign components is another sensitive factor. After stopping the development of the domestic Kaveri engine, the program a General Electric It relies on F404 and F414 engines.
Between 2024 and 2025, delays in US supply chains delayed the delivery of F404 engines by more than two years, directly affecting the production schedule.
2025-I a HAL decided to equip 83 Mk1A aircraft with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) EL/M-2052 radar, replacing the Indian Uttam radar. The decision resulted in new challenges:
Control over the source code remains in Israeli hands.
Integration issues with India’s Astra Mk1 missile.
A test conducted in March 2025 failed due to a data synchronization error between the radar and the weapon system.
Strategic program under review
Tejas is a key component of India’s modernization and industrial independence strategy in the aerospace industry. However, recent accidents, production delays and technical difficulties have reignited the debate about technological maturity, industrial control and foreign dependence.
An investigation into the latest accident is expected to determine whether there was operational error, human error or a systemic problem — a conclusion that could have a direct impact on the pace of production and the international perception of the program.
Source and images: economictimes | Wikimedia. This content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editors.
