The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) for the procurement of 97 light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk1A for the Indian Air Force, valued at over Rs 62,370 crore.

The order includes 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seaters, with deliveries beginning in 2027-28 and spanning six years. These jets will feature over 64 percent indigenous content, with 67 additional items compared to the previous 2021 contract. Advanced Indian-developed technologies like the UTTAM AESA Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and control surface actuators will be integrated, furthering the Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative.

Nearly 105 Indian vendors are involved in component manufacturing, and the program is expected to create employment for around 11,750 people annually during the production period. The acquisition falls under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and aligns with the government’s focus on indigenisation.