Bengaluru, PTI The government has signed a major agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (Hindalan Aeronautics Ltd, HAL) to equip the Indian Air Force with Tejas fighter jets. The government on Wednesday signed a formal deal with Government HAL to buy 83 Tejas light combat aircraft worth Rs 48,000 crore. The government termed the deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, HAL as the largest ‘Make in India’ deal in the defense sector.
Director General of Procurement Affairs of the Ministry of Defense VL Kanta Rao handed over the contract to HAL Managing Director R Madhavan in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at the inauguration of ‘Aero India-2021’. On this occasion, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that I am very happy that HAL has got the contract for construction of 83 new indigenous LCA Tejas Mk 1A from Indian Air Force. The estimated cost of these aircraft is more than Rs 48 thousand crore.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that I think this is the biggest ‘Make in India’ defense agreement till date. Tejas is a one-engine, highly efficient multirole supersonic fighter aircraft made by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, HAL. The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by PM Modi, recently approved the purchase of 73 Tejas MK-1As as well as 10 LCA Tejas MK-1 Trainee aircraft from HAL.
Madhavan said that Tejas LCA’s supply to the Indian Air Force will start from March 2024 under a contract of Rs 48 thousand crore. Till the completion of the supply of 83 aircraft, about 16 aircraft will be supplied annually. Apart from India, many other countries of the world have also shown interest in buying Tejas aircraft. The export orders of these aircraft are expected to be received in the coming one or two years. According to HAL, these 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft will be produced in two units in Bangalore.
The involvement of these aircraft is believed to increase the strength of the Indian Air Force. It may be known that the Tejas with single engine is not only indigenously built but in many ways better than other foreign aircraft of its level. It is also very economical compared to the rest of the aircraft. Recently, R Madhavan, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, HAL, had said that the latest version of the indigenous Tejas Multipurpose Fighter Aircraft could come out next year. Read detailed report – know which combat systems will be equipped with the modern version of Tejas
