India Clears 97 More Tejas Mk1A Jets

India Our Bureau - : Aug 20, 2025 - : 8:49 pm

In a bid to bolster the combat readiness of the Indian Air Force (IAF), India has approved the procurement of 97 more Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk1A fighter jets.

The decision, made during a high-level security meeting and backed by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), clears the path for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to begin production on the indigenous fourth-generation aircraft under a project estimated to cost approximately ₹67,000 crore.

The latest order significantly enhances the IAF’s future combat capability and comes on top of the 83 LCA Mk1A jets previously ordered in February 2021 for ₹48,000 crore. With this new tranche, the total number of Tejas Mk1A fighters on order rises to 180. The IAF also operates 40 earlier versions of the Tejas Mk1, bringing the eventual fleet size to 220 domestically-produced fighter aircraft.

The approval serves as a critical step in the IAF’s long-term modernization plans, particularly as it prepares to retire its aging fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighters. One of the remaining MiG-21 squadrons — the 23 Squadron — is set to be decommissioned in September 2025, pushing the number of operational fighter squadrons in the IAF below 30. The sanctioned strength is 42 squadrons, a benchmark established to effectively manage a potential two-front conflict scenario involving both Pakistan and China.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the Ministry of Defence’s top decision-making body for capital procurements, had given its preliminary nod to the 97 aircraft in November 2023. The final CCS clearance now allows HAL to begin full-scale production at its facilities in Bengaluru and Nasik.

The Tejas Mk1A, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by HAL, is a single-engine, lightweight multirole combat aircraft tailored for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and maritime roles. The Mk1A variant is an upgraded version of the original Tejas Mk1, incorporating key enhancements such as an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an advanced electronic warfare suite, mid-air refueling capability, and compatibility with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles.

Importantly, the aircraft’s modular design and high indigenous content—estimated at around 60% and expected to reach 75%—reflect India’s growing emphasis on strategic self-reliance under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. Over 400 private and public-sector firms are contributing to the Tejas supply chain, with the project creating significant domestic employment and technological innovation.

HAL has committed to delivering the new batch of aircraft over a 15-year timeframe, aligning with the IAF’s strategic timeline for fleet augmentation. By the early 2040s, the IAF is expected to operate a mix of around 40 Tejas Mk1, 180 Tejas Mk1A, and at least 120 Tejas Mk2 fighters, the latter of which is still under development. Together, they will form a substantial component of India’s tactical airpower.

The approval is not just a quantitative boost for the IAF, but a qualitative leap forward as well. Tejas Mk1A’s advanced capabilities allow it to perform in complex combat environments, enhancing India’s deterrence and response posture across its frontiers.

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