Govt to purchase 97 LCA Tejas Mk1A jets from HAL

• The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas  Mk1A, including 68 fighters and 29 twin seaters, for the Indian Air Force, at a cost of Rs 62,370 crore on September 25.

• The delivery of the aircraft would commence in 2027-28 and the supplies will have to be completed over a period of six years.

• The single-engine Mk-1A will be a replacement for the IAF’s MiG-21 fighters.

• It is the second such contract awarded to HAL.

• In February 2021, the Ministry of Defence  sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF.

• The aircraft will have an indigenous content of over 64 per cent, with 67 additional items incorporated, over and above the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021.

• The project to procure the 97 Tejas jets is being supported by a robust vendor base of nearly 105 Indian companies directly engaged in the manufacture of various components.

• The production of the jets is expected to generate close to 11,750 direct and indirect jobs per year for the duration of six years, giving a major boost to the domestic aerospace ecosystem.

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

• Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is India’s first indigenous multi-role fighter aircraft designed and developed to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force. 

• The single-engine aircraft is a supersonic, light weight, all-weather aircraft designed for multiple combat roles. 

• It has been designed to undertake air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles. 

• The 4.5 generation aircraft has advanced avionics, glass cockpit, digital quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control system and large percentage of composite structures.

• The aircraft with delta wing is designed for ‘air combat’ and ‘offensive air support’ with ‘reconnaissance’ and ‘anti-ship’ as its secondary roles. Extensive use of advanced composites in the airframe gives a high strength to weight ratio, long fatigue life and low radar signatures.

• The IAF’s first LCA Tejas squadron, Number 45 the Flying Daggers, was raised in 2016.

• The aircraft is capable of undertaking offensive air support roles as well as ground attach roles and is quite superior to its contemporaries.

• In the coming years, Tejas would be the largest fleet of fighter aircraft to be operated by the IAF.

• LCA Mk1A is the most advanced version of the LCA Tejas. 

• It is equipped with AESA Radar, electronic warfare suite consisting of radar warning and self-protection jamming, Digital Map Generator (DMG), Smart Multi-function Displays (SMFD), Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT), Advanced Radio Altimeter and other advances features.

• The aircraft is presently powered by GE 404 engine which will get upgraded to GE 414 engine for LCA Mk2 which will be manufactured in India with 80 per cent Transfer of Technology arrangement with GE engines for which the MoU has been signed with it.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

• Established on December 23, 1940, as Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Bangalore by Walchand Hirachand, the company aimed to manufacture aircraft domestically. 

• The government of India became a shareholder in 1941, assuming full management control in 1942.

• Initially, HAL focused on manufacturing aircraft under licence from foreign companies, producing models like the Harlow Trainer and Curtiss Hawk Fighter. 

• In 1951, HAL came under the Ministry of Defence’s administrative control and began indigenously designing and developing aircraft, such as the HT-2 Trainer and the HF-24 Jet Fighter (Marut).

• In 1964, Hindustan Aircraft Limited amalgamated with Aeronautics India Limited and it was named Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to streamline operations, thus forming a more robust entity focused on aircraft design, development, manufacturing, and overhaul.

• Over the decades, HAL expanded its product range to include helicopters, engines, and advanced avionics systems. It also established a dedicated Aerospace division to support India's space missions, contributing components for ISRO’s satellites and launch vehicles. 

• HAL has engaged in multiple international partnerships for technology transfer and joint ventures, enhancing its capabilities in aircraft production, including the manufacture of the Sukhoi-30 MKI. 

• To align with HAL’s mission of becoming a global player, exports have been prioritised as a key focus area. HAL has supplied international customers with Dhruv, Lancer, Chetak, and Cheetah helicopters, as well as Do-228 aircraft, and provides ongoing product support for these platforms. 

• The company has established credibility by delivering high-precision structural and composite work packages, assemblies, and avionics to major global aviation firms, including Airbus, Boeing, Rolls Royce, IAI, and Rosoboronexport.

• HAL plays a crucial role in India’s defence capabilities, focusing on self-reliance in military aviation. 

• The company’s developments, like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), are central to modernizing the Indian Armed Forces. 

• HAL’s commitment to innovation and quality has positioned it as a significant player in the global aerospace industry.