In a major boost to the Make in India initiative, the government has cleared a Rs 62,000 crore project to acquire 97 more LCA Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The final approval was granted at a high-level meeting on Tuesday, paving the way for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to begin production, defence sources told India Today.
The new order will help the IAF phase out its ageing MiG-21 fleet, which is set to be retired in the coming weeks, sources said. They added that the indigenous fighter aircraft programme, fully backed by the Defence Ministry and Air Headquarters, is set to be a big boost for promoting indigenisation as well as give major business to the small and medium enterprises engaged in defence business across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been strongly pushing for HAL’s revival. Under his government, the state-run aerospace company has received multiple orders to build indigenous fighter aircraft, helicopters, and engines. PM Modi had also made history by taking a sortie in the trainer variant of the indigenous fighter jet—the first time an Indian Prime Minister has flown in a combat aircraft.
The plan to procure 97 more LCA Mark 1As was first revealed by then Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari during a visit to Spain, when he told news agency ANI about the IAF’s mega plans to ramp up orders for indigenous fighter jets.
Compared to the earlier batch of 40 LCAs, the Mark 1A variant is equipped with upgraded avionics and radars. The indigenous content in these new aircraft will be over 65 per cent, officials said.
The programme has become a symbol of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. HAL is also expected to secure future orders for over 200 LCA Mark 2 jets and a similar number of fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
