Following a series of technical glitches and recent accidents, India’s indigenously developed Tejas MK-1 fighter aircraft may be excluded from the large-scale military exercise, ‘Vayu Shakti.’ Sources indicate that the Tejas did not participate in the "full dress rehearsal" organized by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

According to reports from the Hindustan Times, the Tejas MK-1 was absent during the rehearsal held Tuesday (February 24) at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district.

Consequently, it is speculated that the aircraft will likely sit out the main exercise scheduled for February 27. The IAF has yet to issue an official comment on the matter.

Safety Checks and Fleet Grounding
Sources suggest the IAF is currently conducting comprehensive safety checks across the entire Tejas fleet following a technical incident on February 7.

This precautionary measure is the primary reason for its temporary withdrawal from the drills. The IAF inducted the first Tejas MK-1 in July 2016 and currently operates two squadrons, typically consisting of 16 to 18 aircraft each.

Despite the absence of the Tejas, the 'Vayu Shakti' exercise remains a massive display of air power, featuring:

77 Fighter Jets: Including Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, and MiG-29.

43 Helicopters: Including Apache, Chinook, and LCH.

Support Aircraft: C-17, C-130J, and C-295 transport planes.

Defense Systems: Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and surface-to-air guided weapons.

Contradictory Reports on "Crashes"
State-owned manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) issued a statement clarifying that the Tejas MK-1 recently encountered a "minor technical issue" while on the ground, which is currently under investigation. HAL dismissed media reports of a recent "crash," maintaining that the incident was a ground-based minor technicality.

However, the aircraft’s safety record has faced scrutiny following two major incidents:

• November 2025: A Tejas MK-1 crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Airshow, resulting in the death of the pilot.
• March 2024: An aircraft crashed near Jaisalmer during a tri-service exercise; the pilot successfully ejected.

Production Delays Amid Modernization
This setback comes at a critical time as the IAF prepares to induct the advanced LCA MK-1A variant.

The IAF has signed two major contracts for a total of 180 MK-1A jets—83 ordered in February 2021 and an additional 97 in September 2025—with a combined value of approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore ($13.2 billion).

Notably, despite orders placed five years ago, the first deliveries have yet to commence.