The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday signed a ₹62,370 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, comprising 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seaters, for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
According to the MoD, delivery of the aircraft will begin in 2027–28 and will be completed within six years.
The new contract includes 67 upgraded features beyond the earlier LCA Mk1A deal signed in January 2021. With over 64% indigenous content, the project is expected to significantly boost India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Major Employment Boost
The programme will engage around 105 Indian companies in component manufacturing and is expected to create 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually over the six-year production cycle, strengthening the domestic aerospace ecosystem.
Supporting ‘Make in India’ and Defence Indigenisation
The MoD highlighted that the integration of indigenously developed systems, including the UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and advanced control surface actuators, will further reinforce the government’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative in defence.
Advanced Features of LCA Tejas Mk1A
The LCA Mk1A is the most advanced version of the Tejas fighter jet, featuring:
- AESA Radar
- An electronic warfare suite with radar warning and jamming systems
- A digital map generator
- Smart multi-function cockpit displays
- A combined interrogator and transponder
- An advanced radio altimeter, among other technologies
India remains the world’s second-largest importer of defence equipment, and this deal is seen as a critical step toward reducing dependency on foreign suppliers while strengthening indigenous defence capability.