A Tejas light fighter jet crashed in early February 2026 while landing after a training flight at an Indian Air Force base.
The information was published by The Economic Timeswhich cited its own sources related to the defense sector.
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The pilot was able to eject and was not seriously injured. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft sustained significant structural damage and will probably be taken out of service.
The Air Force has already initiated formal investigations and inspections of the entire fleet.
India currently operates around 32 units of Tejas Mk-1– version. The accident involved a single-seater configuration of LCA (Light Combat Aircraft).
The incident marks the third recorded loss within a relatively small fleet, increasing pressure on the program.
Recent event history
The new crash comes in addition to two other significant episodes:
March 2024, a Tejas crashed near Jaisalmer during a training flight; the pilot then also ejected to safety.
On 11 November 2025, a Tejas crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Airshow after entering an uncontrolled low-altitude dive. The accident was fatal to the pilot and sparked international questions about the platform’s reliability.
The Dubai accident had a particularly direct impact on the aircraft’s export reputation.
Audit points to structural weaknesses
An audit by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) identified 53 significant weaknesses in the Mark-I version that directly affect operational capability. Among the main points:
- Excess weight and limited thrust, which reduce speed and manoeuvrability.
- Inadequate protection of cockpit and fuel system.
- Internal limitations that prevented the full installation of self-defense systems.
- The real share of domestically produced components is estimated at around 35%, below the originally announced 70%.
- Dependence on foreign supplies increases vulnerability.
The strong dependence on foreign components is another sensitive factor. Following the completion of development of the domestic Kaveri engine, the program became dependent on the F404 and F414 engines from General Electric.
Between 2024 and 2025, delays in US supply chains caused the delivery of F404 engines to be delayed by more than two years, directly affecting the production schedule.
In 2025 decided HAL to equip 83 Mk1A aircraft with the Israeli EL/M-2052 radar from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), replacing the Indian Uttam radar. The decision created new challenges:
Control of the source code remains under Israeli authority.
Integration problems with the Indian Astra Mk1 missile.
A test conducted in March 2025 failed due to a synchronization error between the radar and weapon system.
Strategic program under review
Tejas is a central part of India’s strategy for modernization and industrial independence in the aerospace sector. However, recent events, production delays and technical challenges have revived the debate on technological maturity, industrial governance and foreign dependence.
The investigation into the latest crash will determine whether it was an operational failure, human error or a systemic problem — a conclusion that could affect the pace of production and international confidence in the program.
Source and images: economictimes | Wikimedia. This content is created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
