Which aircraft is the second supersonic fighter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after the indigenous HAL HF-24 Marut?

Introduction / Context:
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is India's premier aerospace and defence public sector company. It has played a key role in both license production and indigenous development of fighter aircraft. Historically, HAL HF-24 Marut was India's first indigenous supersonic fighter. The question asks which aircraft is recognised as the second supersonic fighter developed by HAL after that milestone.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• HF-24 Marut is accepted as the first indigenous supersonic fighter developed by HAL.
• The question concerns development by HAL, not licensed production of foreign designs.
• Options include HAL Tejas, MiG-21 Bison, Jaguar IS and Sukhoi Su-30 MKI.
• We treat “developed by HAL” as indicating indigenous design responsibility, not only assembly or upgrade.

Concept / Approach:
The MiG-21 Bison, Jaguar IS and Sukhoi Su-30 MKI are foreign designs produced or upgraded under licence by HAL, but they were not originally designed by HAL. In contrast, HAL Tejas, previously known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), is an indigenous multirole supersonic fighter designed and developed in India with HAL as the principal industrial partner. Therefore, after HF-24 Marut, HAL Tejas is regarded as the second indigenous supersonic fighter aircraft in India.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the key phrase “developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited after the HAL HF-24 Marut”.Step 2: Recognise that HF-24 Marut was India's first indigenous supersonic fighter.Step 3: Note that HAL Tejas is an indigenous light combat aircraft program with HAL as the industrial lead and is a supersonic fighter.Step 4: Recall that MiG-21 Bison, Jaguar IS and Su-30 MKI are imported designs manufactured under licence or heavily upgraded in India but are not original HAL developments.Step 5: Conclude that HAL Tejas is the correct answer as the second supersonic fighter developed by HAL after HF-24 Marut.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard defence literature and many competitive exam notes describe the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as India's second indigenous supersonic fighter after the HF-24 Marut. HAL's own communications highlight its role as the design and production agency for Tejas in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency. This reinforces that Tejas is the intended answer when a question mentions “second supersonic fighter developed by HAL”.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• MiG-21 Bison: This is an upgraded version of the Soviet MiG-21, developed originally by Mikoyan-Gurevich. HAL produces and upgrades it under licence, but it is not an indigenous HAL development.
• Jaguar IS: This aircraft is of Anglo-French origin (SEPECAT Jaguar) and is built under licence in India. HAL did not originate the design.
• Sukhoi Su-30 MKI: This is a Russian Sukhoi design, customised for India. HAL assembles it under licence but does not own the core design.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse “manufactured by HAL” with “developed by HAL”. Many combat aircraft in the Indian Air Force fleet are assembled or overhauled by HAL but are not HAL's indigenous designs. The key to answering correctly is to focus on indigenous development efforts: HF-24 Marut is the first, followed by HAL Tejas as the second. Keeping this distinction in mind helps avoid selecting license-produced aircraft as answers to such questions.

Final Answer:
The second supersonic fighter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited after the HF-24 Marut is the HAL Tejas.