¨
The Defence Ministry
signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 97 Tejas Mk1A jets
worth ₹62,000 crore.
¨
The procurement included
68 fighter aircraft and 29 twin-seat variants for the Indian Air Force.
¨
Deliveries were scheduled
to commence in 2027–28 and continue over six years.
¨
More than 64% indigenous
content was ensured in the aircraft under this agreement.
¨
The Mk1A jets were
equipped with systems like UTTAM AESA Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and
indigenous actuators.
¨
This deal followed the
earlier LCA contract signed in January 2021 with upgraded features.
¨
The project was reported
to be supported by nearly 105 Indian companies as part of the vendor base.
¨
Over 67 additional
indigenous items were incorporated compared to the previous deal.
¨
Around 11,000 jobs
annually is expected to be created directly and indirectly through the
production.
¨
The agreement was hailed
as a major step in strengthening the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence
manufacturing.
