HAL to deliver First Tejas Mark 1A to Indian Air Force by 31 March

Tejas Mark 1A is an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured fighter aircraft with over 65% of its locally produced content

Digital Desk: The state-owned Defence PSU, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is stepping in to deliver the first light combat aircraft (LCA) Mark1A fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force by March 31.

The delivery is part of a Rs 48,000-crore contract between the Defence Ministry and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mark 1A fighters for the IAF, signed in 2021.

"Efforts are also being made to see if we can supply a trainer along with the fighter version of the aircraft," the defence source told India Today.

Tejas Mark 1A is an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured fighter aircraft with over 65% of its locally produced content.

The Tejas Mark 1A will be stationed near the Pakistan border at the Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is also working on the expedited delivery of the first twin-seater trainer version of the aircraft, ANI reported, citing defence sources.

"We already had 40 LCAs of the original IOC and FOC version. So with this, in the long run, the strength of the Indian Air Force will grow to 220 LCA mark 1As, which will equip almost ten squadrons of the Air Force," he said after the deal got cleared by the defence acquisition council,” IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari quoted by Swarajya.

Rajnath Singh, the Minister of Defence, chaired the Defence Acquisition Council, which approved the IAF's modernization scheme for Su-30 fighter aircraft. According to reports, the government expects to spend Rs 1.3 lakh billion on the Su-30 upgrading programme and massive procurement initiatives.