Stealth game: HAL joins DRDO in building 5th-gen advanced combat aircraft

The IAF has accorded the Tejas Mark 2 its "comprehensive design review", which means its design has been found viable and the manufacture of its first prototypes cleared

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is already flying the first 32 Tejas Mark 1 fighters, and an order for 83 Tejas Mark 1A has been placed on Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Meanwhile, there have been important development breakthroughs in the following two fighter programmes: the Tejas Mark 2 and the 5th-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The IAF has accorded the Tejas Mark 2 its “comprehensive design review” (CDR), which means its design has been found viable and the manufacture of its first prototypes cleared.

The AMCA is one step behind, with its preliminary design review (PDR) done last December.