The Indian government has approved the acquisition of 97 LCA Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets to bolster the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities. The deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is valued at approximately 62,000 crore rupees. The Defence Acquisition Council granted the ‘Acceptance of Necessity’ (AoN) for this project on November 30, 2023. Following this, the Ministry of Defence issued a Request for Proposal for this purchase in April 2024. According to sources, the aircraft supply process under this deal will commence from the financial year 2026-27 and will be completed in a phased manner over 4 to 5 years.
This is the second order for LCA Mark 1A fighter jets for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Earlier, HAL received an order to manufacture 83 aircraft. The Tejas Mark-1A are indigenously developed light combat aircraft. Their inclusion will not only strengthen the Air Force’s squadron force but also significantly boost India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) initiative and the indigenization campaign in the defense sector.
The LCA Mark 1A is an advanced version of the Tejas. It is equipped with upgraded avionics and radar systems. Over 60 percent of the components in the LCA Mark-1A are made in India. The Tejas has been developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is a single-engine light combat aircraft.
