India Approves $7.1 Billion for 97 New Fighter Jets for its Air Force

dailyblitz.de 2 hours ago

DELHI- The Government of India has cleared the acquisition of 97 Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a cost of ₹62,000 crore (US$7.1 billion). This order enables Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to scale up production and strengthen the indigenous fighter fleet.

The new order builds on the earlier contract for 83 jets worth around ₹48,000 crore (5.5 billion USD). Together, the IAF will now operate 180 Tejas Mark 1A fighters, replacing ageing MiG-21s across multiple air bases, including New Delhi.

India Approves Tejas Fighter Jet Deal

This approval is the second major order for the Tejas Mark 1A, and it signals a decisive shift in India’s defence procurement strategy.

The indigenous programme, backed strongly by the Defence Ministry and Air Headquarters, ensures long-term fleet standardisation and reduces reliance on imports.

Officials noted that the project directly supports hundreds of small and medium enterprises engaged in defence manufacturing, creating a wider ecosystem for the aerospace industry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played a prominent role in backing HAL and the Tejas programme. He became the first Indian Prime Minister to fly in a trainer variant of the Tejas, highlighting the government’s commitment to indigenous defence capability.

Tejas Mark 1A Capabilities

The Tejas Mark 1A is an upgraded version of the original Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). It comes equipped with advanced avionics, electronic warfare systems, and radar capabilities that make it more agile and combat-ready than the earlier batch of 40 LCAs.

Defence sources confirm that more than 65% of its components are produced in India, a significant marker of the country’s progress in aerospace self-reliance.

Former Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari had first announced the plan for 97 additional jets during his visit to Spain, underlining the Air Force’s long-term strategy to expand its indigenous fleet.

HAL’s Growing Defence Portfolio

HAL has already secured orders for a wide range of aircraft, helicopters, and engines under the government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

The company is expected to receive further contracts for over 200 LCA Mark 2 fighters and a similar number of fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Alongside the Tejas deal, the Defence Acquisition Council recently approved ₹1.6 lakh crore worth of proposals, including 156 Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand units and upgrades for 84 Su-30MKI fighters. These projects demonstrate India’s focus on building a sustainable, indigenous defence ecosystem.