The Indian Airforce (IAF) is likely to get the delivery of its first Tejas Mk-1A aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in July 2024, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday. The Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A made its maiden sortie from an HAL facility in Bengaluru on March 28.
Also, the defence ministry issued a tender to HAL in April for the proposed acquisition of 97 LCA Mk-1As to strengthen IAF’s capabilities at a time it is grappling with a shortage of fighter squadrons. The new fighter planes are expected to cost around ₹67,000 crore
The first Mk-1A aircraft (part of the 2021 order) was to be delivered to IAF by March 31, 2024, but that could not be done as some key certifications were pending.
HAL plans to deliver 16 fighters to IAF in the financial year 2024-25. It has set up a new production line in Nashik for LCA Mk-1A to meet IAF’s growing requirements for fighter jets. It can build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik line will help HAL ramp up production to 24 jets. The delivery of the 87 jets is expected to be completed by 2028.
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