New Delhi has formalised the long-expected acquisition of 97 Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Tejas Mk1A fighters, with deliveries to commence in 2027-2028.
The acquisition will comprise 68 single-seat jets and 29 two-seat examples, with a value of Rs623 billion ($7.5 billion), according to India’s defence ministry.
“The aircraft will have an indigenous content of over 64%, with 67 additional items incorporated, over and above the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021,” says the ministry.
Several key systems will be produced locally, including the UTTAM active electronically scanned array radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare suite, and actuators. This falls under the auspices of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The ministry adds that nearly 105 Indian companies are involved in the work.
The previous order for Tejas Mk1As covered 83 aircraft. At the Paris air show in June, HAL chairman and managing director DK Sunil told FlightGlobal that the company aimed to delivered 12 Mk1As this fiscal year, with a target of 24 jets annually after this.
Production was delayed owing to supply chain issues that affected the deliveries of the jet’s engine, the GE Aerospace F404.
