India signs Rs 62,370 crore contract for 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters

The Ministry of Defence and state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a contract on Thursday for 97 Tejas Mark 1A light combat aircraft to supply the Indian Air Force, a major procurement aimed at bolstering fleet numbers and domestic defence manufacturing. The agreement was signed in New Delhi following final approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security in August.

The ministry issued a statement saying the contract is valued at Rs 62,370 crore excluding taxes for 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft and associated equipment, to be manufactured at HAL facilities in Bengaluru and Nashik, with deliveries beginning in 2027-28 and continuing over six years. Some media reports had earlier cited higher figures, including Rs 66,500 crore and roughly Rs 67,000 crore; officials and ministry documents differed on the headline number. The ministry description and contract text were used as the basis for the Rs 62,370 crore figure.

Under the deal, the IAF will receive 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat trainer variants. The Mk1A is equipped with upgraded avionics and sensors compared with earlier Tejas variants, and the ministry said it will include the Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare...