- HAL to deliver advanced indigenous jets to the Indian Air Force from 2028; project to boost jobs and aerospace ecosystem
- The aircraft will feature over 64% indigenous content, with 67 new components added over and above the earlier Tejas Mk1A contract signed in January 2021
- The acquisition, placed under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, will strengthen the IAF’s operational readiness while creating a ripple effect across the domestic defence ecosystem
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, SEPT 25
In a major boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday signed a ₹62,370-crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The order includes 68 fighter variants and 29 twin-seaters, along with associated equipment.
Deliveries of the 4.5-generation multi-role fighters will commence in 2027-28 and continue over six years. The Tejas Mk1A fleet, equipped with advanced avionics, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare systems, and mid-air refuelling capability, will significantly enhance the IAF’s combat strength.
The aircraft will feature over 64% indigenous content, with 67 new components added over and above the earlier Tejas Mk1A contract signed in January 2021. Among the key technologies integrated are the UTTAM AESA Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach self-protection suite, and indigenous control surface actuators—marking a leap in Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiatives.
The acquisition, placed under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, will strengthen the IAF’s operational readiness while creating a ripple effect across the domestic defence ecosystem. With nearly 105 Indian companies contributing to component manufacturing, the project is expected to generate close to 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually over six years.
The LCA Tejas Mk1A is the most advanced variant of the indigenous fighter and is set to serve as a potent platform for the IAF’s future missions.
