Govt signs $7-billion deal with Hindustan Aeronautics for supply of 97 fighter jets to Indian Air Force
The Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets made by Hindustan Aeronautics are more than 64% localised, India's defence ministry says.
India has signed a deal worth ₹62,370 crore (about $7 billion) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to procure 97 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.
These aircraft are more than 64% localised, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Thursday, underscoring the push for defence manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Deliveries will start in 2027-28.
The order comes at a time when India’s fighter-jet strength is fast depleting.
The Russia-made MiG-21s, which have been the backbone of the Indian Air Force for over six decades, are finally set to retire at a decommissioning event in Chandigarh on 26 September. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh will fly the last sortie of the Squadron with the call sign ‘Badal 3’.
The single-engine Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets are replacing the MiG-21s. According to PTI, the Indian Air Force currently has 31 fighter jets as against a sanctioned strength of 42.
Earlier in September, PTI reported that Hindustan Aeronautics will deliver two Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets to the Indian Air Force in October. The engines powering the aircraft are being sourced from General Electric Co. of the US.
To be sure, this new ₹62,370-crore deal is in addition to the ₹48,000-crore order that the defence ministry placed with Hindustan Aeronautics in February 2021 for 83 Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets, but there has been a significant delay in supply due to GE.
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Still, Hindustan Aeronautics is close to signing a new billion-dollar deal with the American firm for the supply of 113 more engines. That’s in addition to a previous order for 99 engines. HAL is negotiating 80% transfer of technology for these powertrains.
On Thursday, HAL shares rose 1.09% to ₹4,775.00 apiece on the BSE even as the benchmark Sensex ended the day 0.68% lower at 81,159.68 points.
