Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has announced that the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet is structurally ready for upgrades, with the first aircraft of this variant having completed its maiden flight on October 17, 2025, at HAL’s Nashik facility. Despite this progress, the integration of India’s indigenous Astra Mk1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile has encountered significant delays due to software compatibility issues between the missile and the Israeli-origin ELTA EL/M-2052 AESA radar installed on the aircraft. Although the radar is produced under license in India, its critical software remains under Israeli control, requiring approval that has slowed the missile integration process. A test firing of Astra Mk1 in March 2025 reportedly failed due to these software glitches, complicating the timeline for the Tejas Mk1A to achieve Full Operational Clearance, which is now expected to slip beyond the original December 2025 target. The Indian Air Force, which plans to induct 83 Tejas Mk1A jets by 2029 to replace aging MiG-21s, has expressed concern over this foreign dependency. This situation highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing India’s drive for defense self-reliance with the realities of foreign technology dependencies in critical systems. Meanwhile, HAL continues to address engine supply delays and other production constraints, aiming to ramp up deliveries from 2026 onward.