India confirmed the purchase of 97 new LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to replace its MiG-21s, which will soon be retired

On September 25, 2025, the Ministry of Defence of India signed a contract with the state-owned company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the acquisition of 97 LCA Tejas Mk1A light fighters, in an agreement valued at more than 62.37 billion rupees (excluding taxes), approximately an amount of USD 700 million. The order includes 68 single-seaters and 29 two-seaters, in addition to associated equipment, intended for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Deliveries of the new aircraft will begin in the 2027–2028 period and will extend over six years. According to the Ministry of Defence, the fleet will incorporate 64% locally manufactured components, including 67 new systems compared to the previous 2021 contract. Among them are the Uttam AESA radar, the Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic self-protection system, and new control surface actuators.

The project involves the participation of around 105 Indian companies in the production chain and is estimated to generate about 11,750 direct and indirect jobs per year during the manufacturing period. The purchase falls under the “Buy (India-IDDM)” category of the 2020 Defence Acquisition Procedure, reinforcing the government’s indigenization strategy.

With this contract, the Indian Air Force will have a total of 180 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighters, adding the 83 previously ordered in 2021. The incorporation will make it possible to accelerate the replacement of the Soviet-origin MiG-21s, which are in the process of retirement after more than six decades in service.

The MiG-21s were the country’s first supersonic fighters, incorporated in 1963. They operated in various conflicts, including the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, and the Kargil War in 1999. However, the high number of accidents in which they were involved — more than 400 according to local media — earned them the nickname of “flying coffin.”

The development of the LCA Tejas Mk1A has faced delays, mainly due to the lack of F404 engines manufactured in the United States. HAL received the first units of this series in mid-2025, after delays linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the IAF already publicly presented units of this variant during the Aero India 2025 event.

In addition to the Tejas program, India is working on the development of the Tejas Mk2 and the fifth-generation AMCA fighter. According to official estimates, these projects will make it possible to replace in the future other aircraft in service, such as the Mirage 2000 and Jaguar. At the same time, New Delhi approved the modernization of 84 Su-30MKI fighters and is evaluating the possibility of acquiring more Rafale aircraft of French origin, part of which could be manufactured on Indian territory.

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