THE CABINET Committee on Security Tuesday cleared the procurement of 97 LCA Mk 1 A light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, sources confirmed to The Indian Express.
When inducted, the additional indigenous jets will be a boost to the dwindling fighter squadrons of the IAF. The order was already in the pipeline. Their procurement was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in 2023.
Earlier, the IAF had placed an order for 83 LCA Mk 1 A jets in February 2021. Subsequently, in August 2021, the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited placed an order worth Rs 5,375 crore for 99 F404 engines with GE Aerospace to power the indigenously made Tejas Mk-1A. The first of these jet engines was delivered to HAL after a delay of nearly a year and a half, in April this year. The second engine was delivered last month.
The engine deliveries were delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues.
Twelve Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will be ready to be rolled out by December this year, of which six aircraft have already been lined up, government officials had said.
The timely induction of the indigenous fighter jets, including Tejas Mk 1A, is crucial to holding the IAF’s dwindling squadron strength. The IAF has phased out most of its MiG-21 squadrons, and early next decade, it is likely to begin phasing out other ageing fighter squadrons.
According to officials, HAL plans to produce 16 fighter jets next year provided the engine deliveries from the US are on schedule. The original plans were to produce 16 aircraft every year and complete deliveries of all jets by 2030.
