The Defence Ministry, on Thursday, signed a ₹62,370-crore tender with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure an additional 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk-1As) to the Indian Air Force (IAF) together with the related equipment. The relocation is associated with the fact that IAF is experiencing an acute lack of fighter jets, which accentuates the necessity to reinforce the operational capacity. The first deliveries of the new aircraft will take place in 2027-28 and will be made in six years. The order includes 68 single-seat fighters and the 29 twin-seat variants.
The deal had been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, which was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and indicated that the government remained committed to the aspects of indigenisation and defence self-reliance. The new LCA Mk-1As, according to the Defence Ministry, are going to be over 64 per cent indigenous, with 67 new items added to the previous Mk-1A model. Future native systems like the Uttam AESA radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare pack, and improved control surface actuators will be incorporated and will contribute to the operational and technological strength of the aircraft to a great extent. There will also be almost 105 Indian vendors directly involved in the manufacturing of critical components in the project.
This acquisition is categorised as a Buy (Indian-IDDM) of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 that prioritises indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured systems. The LCA Mk-1A is the supposedly most sophisticated model of the Indian-made fighter aircraft and is likely to be used to achieve significant objectives to satisfy the operational requirements of the IAF.
At the time of signing the contract, it was a surprise to some observers as it was expected that the contract would be signed only once HAL completed manufacturing the first two of 83 ordered LCA Mk-1As in February 2021 at ₹48,000 crore. Such planes are now being taken through serious weapon tests, some testing of the ASRAAM advanced short-range air-to-air missile.
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