The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday expressed confidence that the technical issues delaying the induction of the Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft are close to being resolved.Speaking at an event here, IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said only a few aspects relating to the integration of missiles with the aircraft’s radar system remained to be validated.”Only two or three points relating to the integration of various missiles with radars are left to be proven. I think within a month or two, we should be able to overcome these technical issues. Thereafter, the road is clear for the aircraft to be inducted. We are eagerly awaiting the induction of the Tejas Mk-1A,” he said.The comments assume significance at a time when state-run aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is facing criticism over delays in delivering the fighter aircraft.A total of 180 Tejas Mk-1A jets, an upgraded version of the Tejas currently operated by the IAF, are on order. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in March 2024, but none has yet been handed over to the force because of pending radar-missile integration issues.Last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appeared to refer to delays in key military projects, saying such setbacks needed to be taken seriously as they could create technology gaps and lead to cost escalation.Air Marshal Dixit said the programme had earlier been affected by shortages in engine supplies.”We could not get enough engines. Now we have received the engines and installed them on the aircraft. We are carrying out proper and thorough testing before induction,” he said.Looking ahead, the Vice Chief said India was developing its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft and had committed significant technical resources and expertise to the programme.Tejas crash in Dubai still under probeThe Tejas fighter aircraft crash in Dubai last year remains under investigation, Air Marshal Dixit said. He said final technical analysis of certain components was still under way. IAF Wing Commander Namansh Syal was killed in the crash, which occurred in November last year. The findings of the investigation are awaited.