New Delhi, September 25: In a major boost to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets at a cost of Rs 62,370 crore, excluding taxes. The aircraft are in addition to the 83 Tejas jets ordered in 2021 under a Rs 48,000 crore contract.
The new contract covers 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat variants for training, along with associated equipment. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027-28 and are expected to be completed over six years, the MoD said in a statement.
The jets will feature over 64% indigenous content, incorporating 67 additional items beyond the previous order. Advanced systems such as the ‘Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar’ and an electronic protection suite will further strengthen India’s push for defence self-reliance under the ‘Aatmanirbharta’ initiative.
“The Tejas Mark-1A will be our most advanced indigenous fighter, with high operational capabilities and training potential for our pilots,” the MoD noted.
The programme is supported by a vendor base of around 105 Indian companies, directly engaged in manufacturing components. The production is expected to generate nearly 11,750 direct and indirect jobs per year over the six-year span.
The addition of 97 jets will help the IAF replace its ageing MiG-21 fleet, which is set to be retired in a ceremony on Friday at Chandigarh. Currently, the IAF operates 31 squadrons, short of the mandated 42 required to counter a collusive two-front threat from Pakistan and China. With the MiG-21s phased out, the fleet will drop to 29 squadrons.
Besides these new orders, the IAF already operates 40 Tejas Mark-1 jets. The fleet of Jaguar, MiG-29, and Mirage 2000 aircraft, inducted during the 1980s, is planned for retirement beyond 2029-30. Around 250 such jets are operating on an extended life cycle.
As per defence planning, India aims to produce some 500 fighter jets over the next two decades to modernize its air combat capabilities. The acquisition of the 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets marks a significant step toward achieving that goal.
