New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, September 25 sealed a Rs 62,370 crore deal with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to procure 97 Tejas MK1A light combat aircraft (68 fighters and 29 twin seaters) for the Indian Air Force. The contract signing came over a month after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) green-lighted the mega procurement.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), last month gave its nod for the production of Tejas Mk1A, the newer and improved version of India’s single-engine, 4.5 generation delta wing multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency. It will play an important role in mitigating the fall in the number of combat squadrons. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had given its approval in November 2023.
For the IAF leadership, this comes as a relief amid the fast dwindling combat fighter strength. With the last MiG 21 squadron (23 Squadron) being phased out on September 26, the current number of fighter squadrons will hit below 30.
According to an official readout, “The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, including 68 fighters and 29 twin seaters, along with associated equipment, for the Indian Air Force, at a cost of over Rs. 62,370 crore (excluding taxes).” It is the second such contract awarded to the state-run aerospace behemoth. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for procurement of 83 Tejas Mk1A jets for the IAF.
As per officials, the delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would commence in 2027-28 and the supplies will have to be completed over a period of six years. The single-engine Mk1A will be a replacement for the IAF’s MiG-21 fighters.
The defence ministry said that the aircraft will have an indigenous content of over 64 per cent, with 67 additional items incorporated, over and above the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021. “The advanced LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Mk1A integrates Uttam active electronically steered radar (AESA) Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach and control actuators, with 64%+ indigenous content and 67 new indigenous items. Supported by 105 suppliers, the project will generate 11,750 jobs per year over six years. Deliveries will start in 2027-28, boosting IAF capability, Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) and India’s defence preparedness,” the MoD added.
“The acquisition, under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, is in line with the government’s thrust on indigenisation. The LCA Mk1A is the most advanced variant of the indigenously designed and manufactured fighter aircraft and will serve as a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of the IAF,” the ministry said in the readout.
Tejas is a multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments and has been designed to undertake the air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles. The first indigenous LCA was inducted in July 2016. The first IAF squadron to induct the Tejas was No 45 Squadron, the ‘Flying Daggers’. Forty LCA Tejas Mk1 were ordered initially, of which 35 have been inducted till now.
The LCA Mk1A will have updated avionics, an updated electronic warfare suite and a beyond visual range missile capability. The new variant will be capable of firing a number of weapons from increased stand-off ranges. The IAF had ordered 83 LCA Tejas Mk1A at Rs 46,000 crore in 2021. Once this new order is completed in the stipulated 15 years, the IAF will have 40 LCA, over 180 LCA Mark1A and at least 120 LCA Mark-2 planes. To handle all potential challenges, the IAF officially is supposed to have 42 combat squadrons. The IAF plans to increase the profile of indigenous combat platforms.
According to a source, this is as per a long-term plan to not only add to the resources of HAL to keep its assembly lines alive but also to add more indigenously manufactured combat systems.
