The Indian government has approved the purchase of 97 Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), a deal worth $7.4 billion that strengthens the country’s indigenous defense manufacturing base and expands its fighter fleet.
According to India’s Defence Ministry, the order adds to the 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft cleared in 2021, bringing the total to 180 fighters. The jets will gradually replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet, which has served the Air Force for decades.
The Tejas program, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has long been championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a cornerstone of India’s push for self-reliance in defense.
Last week, Modi underscored his personal support by taking a sortie in a Tejas, praising the program as a symbol of India’s growing aerospace capability.
The Tejas Mk1A incorporates advanced avionics and radar systems, marking a clear improvement over the earlier 40 Light Combat Aircraft already delivered to the IAF.
Defence officials noted that “more than 65 percent of components in the new aircraft are of indigenous origin,” highlighting the program’s role in promoting India’s industrial ecosystem. The order is expected to support hundreds of small and medium enterprises across the defense manufacturing sector.
Former Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari had first signaled the plan to acquire 97 additional aircraft during a visit to Spain, framing it as part of the Air Force’s long-term effort to expand its indigenous fighter fleet. With deliveries of the earlier order already underway, the new contract positions the Tejas as the backbone of the IAF’s future inventory.
The aircraft, manufactured by HAL, entered service in 2016 and is currently operated by two IAF squadrons. With the new orders, the Tejas is set to become the Air Force’s largest fighter fleet in the coming years, reflecting the central role of domestic platforms in India’s modernization plans.
In addition to the Tejas Mk1A, HAL is also expected to secure further contracts for over 200 LCA Mk2 jets and a comparable number of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s fifth-generation fighter program. These initiatives are aligned with the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Make in India” missions, which emphasize self-reliance in defense production and the development of critical aerospace technologies within the country.
An order valued at Rs 36,468 crore for the delivery of 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft has already been placed with HAL, with deliveries scheduled to begin in February 2024. The additional 97 aircraft will extend that production line well into the next decade, ensuring steady output for HAL and its supply chain.