In New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence has released a procurement notice to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the government-operated aerospace titan, for 97 LCA Mk-1A Tejas light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, officials confirmed on Friday. The estimated expenditure for the fleet is around Rs 67,000 crore.

The Tejas aircraft represents a formidable asset for aerial skirmishes and support operations, while also fulfilling reconnaissance and anti-naval missions. In November, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) sanctioned the acquisition plan for the 97 additional Tejas jets for the IAF. Furthermore, the DAC endorsed the IAF’s proposal to enhance its Su-30 fighter arsenal with upgrades conducted by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).