Tejas Mk2 fighter jet delayed: India upgrades Su-30MKI and negotiates Su-57 purchase.

India's Tejas Mk2 fighter jet program has suffered another significant setback with a two-year delay in its first test flight. This delay not only impacts the fleet modernization roadmap but also poses major challenges to the credibility of the domestic defense industry. In this context, New Delhi is increasingly considering strengthening cooperation with Russia by upgrading its existing flagship aircraft.

Reasons for the Tejas Mk2 project's delay.

Although the Indian Defence Council approved the program in late 2022, the actual budget allocation and completion of international cooperation agreements were pushed back to the end of 2023. This is the main reason why the project could not be implemented according to the original schedule.

Besides the financial aspect, the Tejas Mk2 is a far more complex aircraft than the currently operational Mk1. The new design features a larger fuselage, added canards for increased maneuverability, and uses powerful F414 engines supplied by the US, replacing the older F404 series.

However, the supplier General Electric (USA) is facing disruptions in its global supply chain, leading to delays in the delivery of F414 engines. This situation raises questions about whether India may have to seek alternative engine options to salvage the program.

Challenges in localization and cost issues.

Another technical hurdle is the requirement for a localization rate of at least 80%. Given the precedent of frequently delayed localization programs and the limitations of supporting industrial infrastructure, this is considered an extremely difficult target for Indian contractors.

Economically, the project's effectiveness is being seriously questioned. At approximately $72 million per aircraft, the Tejas Mk2 is not cheap compared to its competitors in the same segment. Notably, despite being under development for nearly 40 years, the Tejas series has yet to enter service in sufficient numbers to bring about a qualitative change in the air force.

While awaiting the Mk2, in September 2025, the Indian Ministry of Defence signed a $7 billion contract to purchase 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027–2028 with improvements focused on avionics.

The strategy of shifting towards Russian technology.

Faced with the challenges of its domestic program, India is accelerating its comprehensive upgrade plan for its Su-30MKI heavy fighter fleet. In February 2026, the country's Ministry of Defence confirmed it would modernize 84 out of more than 270 Su-30MKI aircraft with technical assistance from Russia.

The initial phase of modernization will focus on integrating new auxiliary systems, leveraging the Su-30MKI's significant design capabilities to bring it closer to fifth-generation fighter capabilities. Simultaneously, negotiations for the licensed production of the Su-57 fighter entered an intensive engineering phase starting in January 2026.

In particular, Russia made an unprecedented offer by providing full access to the Su-57's source code as part of the agreement. This is a crucial factor that will give India greater autonomy in integrating domestically produced weapons into the Russian aircraft platform.

Currently, India is also developing its own fifth-generation AMCA fighter jet, but this project is unlikely to bring the aircraft into active service before 2040. Therefore, upgrading the Su-30MKI and acquiring the Su-57 is considered the optimal solution to fill the force gap in the short and medium term.