NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government has ordered 83 light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A Tejas aircraft worth Rs 36,468 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in an effort to amp up India’s defence preparedness, official sources said on Saturday.
The delivery is scheduled to begin by February 2024.
More than Rs 9,000 crore has been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an upgraded and more lethal variant of LCA Tejas.
Transfer of Technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India has been negotiated with GE during PM Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023 to further encourage indigenisation, including of the aircraft engine.
The first version of the fighter jet was inducted into the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) in 2016. Currently, two IAF squadrons, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas.
The development comes after PM Modi’s visit to the defence PSU earlier today. He took a sortie on the Tejas aircraft, becoming the first PM to fly in LCA.
“The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country’s indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential,” the Prime Minister posted on X.
The delivery is scheduled to begin by February 2024.
More than Rs 9,000 crore has been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an upgraded and more lethal variant of LCA Tejas.
Transfer of Technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India has been negotiated with GE during PM Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023 to further encourage indigenisation, including of the aircraft engine.
The first version of the fighter jet was inducted into the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) in 2016. Currently, two IAF squadrons, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas.
The development comes after PM Modi’s visit to the defence PSU earlier today. He took a sortie on the Tejas aircraft, becoming the first PM to fly in LCA.
“The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country’s indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential,” the Prime Minister posted on X.
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