In a major boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday signed a contract worth ₹62,370 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The order comprises 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seater aircraft, along with associated equipment. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027–28 and will be completed within a span of six years, making this the largest order for the Tejas platform to date. The deal follows the ₹46,898 crore contract for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets signed in January 2021.
Advanced Features & Indigenous Content
The Mk-1A variant to be delivered under this contract will feature an indigenous content of over 64%. Compared to the earlier order, 67 additional items have been integrated. Key upgrades include:
- UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar
- Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare system
- Indigenous control surface actuators
These enhancements are expected to significantly strengthen the IAF’s combat readiness.
Boost to Domestic Defence Ecosystem
The project will be supported by a robust vendor base of around 105 Indian companies engaged in manufacturing detailed components. The production process is expected to generate nearly 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually over the six-year delivery period, giving a major push to the domestic aerospace ecosystem.
Strategic Significance
The acquisition has been classified under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, reflecting the government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defence.
Officials said the deal is a significant step towards bolstering indigenous capabilities while equipping the Indian Air Force with the most advanced variant of the indigenously designed and developed Tejas fighter jet.
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