The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 97 Tejas Mk1A light combat aircraft (LCA), valued at Rs 62,370 crore (excluding taxes). Signed on September 25, 2025, under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, this is the single largest order for an Indian-built fighter jet and a decisive step in the government’s self-reliance drive.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027–28, with all 97 aircraft, comprising 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, to be inducted over a six-year period.

The Tejas Mk1A, developed by HAL, represents the most advanced variant of India’s LCA, featuring upgrades in avionics, weapons, radar, and survivability. Compared to earlier orders, the latest batch incorpor

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