IAF to order around 100 more LCA Mark-1A fighter jets for over $8 billion
25 Aug 2023 12:58:02
India's aerospace sector is poised to gain massive momentum as the Indian Air Force plans to order around 100 more LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, a day after India's major breakthrough in space with the Chandrayaan-3. The intention of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to replace the MiG-21 warplanes in its fleet with Indian-made aircraft has been announced to the Ministry of Defense and all stakeholders in the country security design.
The decision to purchase about 100 more of these planes came after the Indian Air Force Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari held a meeting with all the organizations including HAL of the Regional Defense Forces.
"The Indian Air Force has decided to purchase nearly 100 highperformance LCA Mark1A fighter jets from HAL. The proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Defence.
The program is expected to be approved soon and will provide the greatest support to the private defense aerospace industry. The defense attorney told ANI. The order means that the Indian Air Force will lease more LCA Tejas aircraft. In the next 15 years, the Indian Air Force will have 40 LCAs, more than 180 LCA Mark-1As, and at least.
The final order for 120 LCA Mark-2 aircraft LCA Mark 1A is for 83 aircraft, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered around February 2024. LCA Mark 1A is a professional aircraft from Tejas.
The LCA Mark 1A aircraft has more avionics and radar than the first 40 LCA aircraft delivered to the Air Force. Native content will exceed 65 percent in the new LCA Mark1A. Speaking at a meeting about the project, the Indian Air Force chief said that the LCA is a role model for the IAF's community efforts.
This concept is the forerunner of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Made in India. More importantly, it is a model bearer for confidence in India's aerospace industry.
During the review it was determined that all different LCA Mk 1 contracts were awarded to the Indian Air Force. HAL representatives also assured observers that the two aircraft contracts would be delivered on time in the coming months.
In addition to the LCA Mk 1, the Indian Air Force has signed a contract for 83 LCA Mk1A aircraft in 2021. Delivery of the advanced model of the LCA will begin in February 2024.