Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Ministry of Defence have inked a historic ₹62,370 crore deal for the purchase of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) TEJAS MK-1A fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
One of the biggest domestic military aircraft purchases in Indian history, this order consists of 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seater training versions.
The agreement falls under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020’s “Buy (India–IDDM)” category, highlighting the government’s significant emphasis on domestic manufacturing, design, and development.
Phased deliveries of the TEJAS MK-1A fleet will take place over a six-year period, starting in 2027-28. By the end of this program, the IAF will have a sophisticated 4.5-generation multi-role fighter platform, greatly increasing the strength of its fleet.
It is anticipated that the aircraft will be essential to ground attack and air defense tasks, providing the IAF with more combat operations flexibility.
With the integration of cutting-edge equipment like the domestically produced UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the TEJAS MK-1A variant offers significant improvements over previous variants. Modern electronic control systems, mid-air refueling capability, sophisticated avionics packages, and the Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare suite are additional enhancements.
These upgrades are intended to increase the MK-1A’s offensive performance, multi-role adaptability, and survivability, making it a very powerful platform in the 4.5-generation fighter market.
India’s drive for defense self-reliance will be reflected in the aircraft’s more than 64% indigenous component. Notably, this contract includes 67 additional indigenous items beyond those in the previous MK-1A agreement, which was signed in 2021.
In addition to lowering future reliance on imports and promoting the development of vital capabilities within India’s aerospace industry, this expansion of indigenous participation is in line with the larger Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) plan in defense production.
With more than 105 Indian businesses helping to produce and supply essential parts and systems, the project is backed by a robust domestic industrial foundation.
In addition to bolstering India’s aerospace production capacity, this vast vendor ecosystem ensures a lengthy supply chain for maintaining and repairing the aircraft over its service life.
The output is expected to have an annual economic impact of about 11,750 direct and indirect jobs during the six-year delivery period.
India’s domestic aerospace ecosystem will benefit greatly from this, which will encourage innovation, employment, and technological advancement in the defense sector. In order to ensure widespread industrial engagement, the initiative will also assist small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that are a part of the supply chain.
The Indian Air Force will have a robust backbone of domestic light fighters thanks to the inclusion of 97 TEJAS MK-1A aircraft and the 2021 order of 83.
The IAF will field about 180 TEJAS MK-1A aircraft over the next ten years as a result of these acquisitions, making it the most produced fighter aircraft type in India’s history. Benefits from fleet standardization will also be secured, simplifying logistics, operations, and pilot training.
In terms of strategy, the TEJAS MK-1A order bolsters India’s air power at a time when regional security issues make fleet modernization and combat capability expansion crucial. The IAF is planning for increased independence in combat operations with less reliance on importing planes from abroad by bringing in a significant number of indigenous fighters in addition to covering squadron shortages.
This initiative demonstrates India’s growing capacity to design, develop, and mass-produce cutting-edge frontline military platforms while solidifying HAL’s position as the primary integrator of cutting-edge combat aircraft.
