One of the most affordable contemporary fighter jets in the world is India’s domestic Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the TEJAS MK-1A.
This 4.5-generation fighter jet, produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is competitive and reasonably priced thanks to cutting-edge features like an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, an Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, and Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capability.
In August 2025, the Indian government authorised the purchase of 97 TEJAS MK-1A aircraft for around ₹62,000 crore, or about ₹640 crore (about USD 70–75 million) each aircraft.
This most recent contract comes after a 2021 order for 83 MK-1A aircraft, each valued at around ₹578 crore. Over 180 TEJAS MK-1A aircraft will be acquired by the Indian Air Force as part of the combined program, establishing it as a key component of India’s future air force.
The TEJAS is noticeably more cost-effective when compared. For comparison, the Rafale fighter designed specifically for India costs around ₹1,300 crore (about USD 125 million), which is almost twice as much as the TEJAS MK-1A.
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which costs about USD 143 million per unit, the Rafale, which costs about USD 125 million, the Eurofighter Typhoon, which costs about USD 117 million, and China’s Chengdu J-20, which costs about USD 110 million, are some of the most expensive fighters in the world. At roughly USD 70–75 million, the TEJAS is less than half as expensive as comparable rivals.
This cost-effectiveness is crucial for improving India’s domestic defence capabilities while maintaining affordability. The TEJAS initiative promotes small and medium-sized businesses and the domestic aerospace industry in addition to increasing self-reliance with approximately 64% indigenous content.
In conclusion, the TEJAS MK-1A highlights its value proposition in both domestic and international defence contexts by providing a modern, capable aircraft at a fraction of the cost of other modern jets like the Rafale, F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Chengdu J-20. It is an example of India’s technological and industrial advancement in fighter aircraft production. The
