MoD, HAL sign ₹62,370 crore deal for 97 new light combat aircraft to boost self-reliance

The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract to buy 97 light combat aircraft, of the Tejas Mark-1A variant, for the Indian Air Force from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, in a deal worth over ₹62,370 crore. The order includes 68 fighter jets and 29 twin-seaters, along with associated equipment. Deliveries will begin in 2027-28 and be completed over six years.

“The supply of these aircraft by HAL would enhance operational capability of the Indian Air Force to continue their unhindered operations and strengthen defence preparedness of the country,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a post on X. “This contract reflects the trust and confidence of the Government and the Armed Forces in the indigenously developed aircraft ‘Tejas’, which will be the mainstay of the IAF in the years to come,” he added.

With more than 64% indigenous content and 67 new items in comparison to the 2021 contract, this Tejas Mk-1A will feature advanced systems such as the UTTAM AESA Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and indigenous control surface actuators, reinforcing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative to move towards a self-reliant India.

The programme is backed by a supply chain of around 105 Indian companies and is expected to generate nearly 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually during the production period, according to the Defence Ministry. Procured under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, the Tejas Mk-1A is the most advanced variant of the indigenously designed fighter jet and will serve as a powerful platform to meet the IAF’s operational needs, the Ministry added.