BENGALURU, Sept. 18 -- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) expects to begin delivering the light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) to the Indian Air Force by the end of this year, with the state-run aerospace major working to resolve the final radar and weapons-integration issues, its chairman and managing director Ravi K said in his first interview since taking charge on May 1. "The last-mile corrections are underway," he told HT on Thursday. "There are a few radar issues that we need to address. Also, the final weapons integration testing is still pending. We should resolve these issues within a month or so and get the aircraft ready for delivery." The LCA Mk-1A is central to the IAF's push to shore up its fighter fleet, which faces a worrying shortfall. The IAF has placed two orders for 180 Mk-1A fighter jets worth a combined Rs.1.1 lakh crore. The first contract for 83 aircraft was signed in February 2021, followed by a second for 97 fighters in September 2025. The deliveries, which are likely to begin in December, are under the first contract. HAL plans to deliver around 10 fighter jets to the IAF in FY 2026-27. "I have got 10 engines from GE Aerospace, and 27 LCA Mk-1A airframes are ready. We can definitely deliver 10 aircraft," Ravi said. The IAF is concerned about the pace of the LCA Mk-1A programme because of the possible risks a delay in the induction of new fighters could pose to its combat effectiveness....