Defence
Defence Ministry Inks Rs 62,370-Crore Deal With HAL For 97 LCA Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jets
Tejas Mark1A
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a landmark contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Valued at over Rs 62,370 crore (excluding taxes), the deal includes 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, along with associated equipment.
The deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to commence in 2027-28 and will be completed within six years.
The LCA Mk1A, designed and manufactured indigenously, will feature over 64 per cent indigenous content.
This new contract incorporates 67 additional items compared to the earlier agreement signed in January 2021.
Key upgrades include integration of the indigenously developed UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach self-protection suite, and control surface actuators.
Over the course of six years, it is expected to generate around 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually, providing a major boost to the domestic aerospace ecosystem.
The acquisition falls under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, underscoring the government’s push for self-reliance in defence production.
The LCA Mk1A is the most advanced variant of the Tejas fighter, designed to meet the operational requirements of the IAF and enhance its combat capability.
