Rs 62,000 Cr Plan Approved! India To Acquire 97 Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jets To Replace Old MiG-21s
The LCA Tejas Mk1A, built by HAL, are set to replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
India has cleared the acquisition of 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A fighter jets, in what is being billed as a significant step for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India defence programme.
The approval, granted at a high-level meeting on Tuesday (August 19), will allow state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to move ahead with production, defence officials said. It marks the second major order for the upgraded Tejas fighters, after the government signed a deal for 83 aircraft worth about Rs 48,000 crore several years ago.
What role will Tejas LCA Mk1A take after replacing MiG-21?
The new jets will play a central role in replacing the Indian Air Force’s ageing MiG-21 fleet, which is set to be retired in the coming weeks. The LCA Mark 1A has been designed with advanced avionics and radar systems, offering a significant improvement over the earlier batch of 40 LCAs already inducted.
Officials said indigenous content in the Mark 1A variant would exceed 65%, reinforcing India’s drive for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The programme is expected to generate substantial business for small and medium enterprises across the country that are part of the supply chain.
How will Tejas Mk1A deal aid revival of HAL?
PM Modi has repeatedly urged the revival of HAL, which under his government has secured contracts to produce indigenous fighter jets, helicopters and engines. In 2021, the prime minister became the first Indian leader to undertake a sortie in the trainer version of the Tejas.
The plan to acquire an additional 97 aircraft was first made public by the former air chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, during a visit to Spain. HAL is also expected to secure contracts for over 200 LCA Mark 2s as well as a similar number of fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft in the years ahead.
Officials described the Tejas programme as a flagship of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, calling it a symbol of the country’s ambition to build a robust domestic aerospace industry.
