Confirming what had been reported in April, India has decided to finalize the purchase of 97 new LCA Tejas Mk1A fighters to equip its Air Force, requiring an investment of nearly 62 billion rupees by New Delhi. The announcement came as the central government approved the acquisition in high-level meetings, marking the second batch of such aircraft purchased by the Asian country, following a previous order of 83 units worth around 48 billion rupees.
In this way, the Indian Air Force will have a total of 180 LCA Tejas Mk1A aircraft, representing a significant leap in capability compared to the aging MiG-21s, which are in the process of being retired after more than 60 years of service. This development also points to the recovery of the number of combat-ready fighter squadrons, which currently stands at 29, far below the more than 40 required according to India’s strategic needs.
It is worth noting that the new Mk1A variant fighters stand out for incorporating a significant percentage of components produced by the local industry, a figure that reportedly reaches around 65%. This is particularly relevant considering that delivery delays up to now have been attributed to setbacks in receiving the U.S.-made F404 engines used to power them. The design includes major improvements in avionics and radar compared to the first 40 LCA Tejas fighters acquired by the Air Force, while also providing a major boost to the Made in India program and to the local company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
At the same time, local Indian media have indicated that, even with the significant number of fighters included in this acquisition, the Indian Air Force remains interested in the development of the Tejas Mk2 version, with projections of orders for up to 200 units. Similarly, the country is pursuing the development of a fifth-generation fighter known as the AMCA, aiming to provide its pilots with a comparable number of these advanced aircraft.
In addition, it has been highlighted that New Delhi also approved, through the Defence Acquisition Council, the modernization project for up to 84 Su-30MKI fighters to further strengthen its airpower capabilities. Meanwhile, India is also reportedly interested in acquiring additional French-made Rafale fighters, with the expectation that part of the 114 intended aircraft could be manufactured in Indian production facilities—an option that would be possible if a new government-to-government agreement is signed with France.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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