HAL to start delivery of 83 Tejas Mk1A within 3 years, CCS approves 48,000 Crore deal

The Cabinet Committee on Security or CCS chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday cleared the Rs 48,000 crore deal for 83 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. Accordingly, the delivery of the fighter jets to start from three years from the date of signing the contract.

The deal will mark the 83 Light Combat Aircraft or LCA 'Tejas' Mark 1A fighters, 73 single-seat and 10 twin seat to be delivered by the Hindustan hindustan Aeronautics Limited to the Indian Air Force. Giving a major boost to "Make in India" initiative and AatmaNirbhar Bharat CCS on Wedensday, January 13 gives nod to the deal. According to the reports, the deal approves on Wednesday is one among the biggest indigenous deals signed in the Defence sector.

The CCS meeting was chaired by the PM Modi in New Delhi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also present in the meeting held for the major acquisition for Armed Forces. After the meeting taking to the micro-blogging site Twitter, Singh says "The CCS chaired by PM Sh.Narendra Modi today approved the largest indigenous defence procurement deal worth about 48000 Crores to strengthen IAF’s fleet of homegrown fighter jet ‘LCA-Tejas’. This deal will be a game changer for self reliance in the Indian defence manufacturing".

"The LCA-Tejas programme would act as a catalyst for transforming the indian aerospace manufacturing ecosystem into a vibrant Atmanirbhar-self-sustaining ecosystem. I thank the Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi for this historic decision taken by the CCS today", tweets Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

According to the Union Minister of Defence, the decision taken in the meeting will considerably expand the current LCA ecosystem and help in creating new job opportunities. He further adds that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited follows a system integrator model in LCA Mk1A program and acts as an umbrella organisation, fostering manufacturing & design capabilities in pvt. industry.

"The HAL has already set-up second line manufacturing facilities at its Nasik and Bengaluru Divisions. Equipped with the augmented infrastructure the HAL will steer LCA-Mk1A production for timely deliveries to the IAF".

Also Read- Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by PM Modi clears deal of 83 LCA Mark 1A with HAL

"The LCA-Tejas is going to be the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet in years to come. LCA-Tejas incorporates a large number of new technologies many of which were never attempted in India. The indigenous content of LCA-Tejas is 50% in Mk1A variant which will be enhanced to 60%", Union Minister Rajnath Singh adds