The Indian government on 13 January approved the purchase of 73 Tejas Mk 1A fighters and ten Tejas Mk 1 trainer aircraft in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
This is the first procurement to be agreed under Indian government rules stipulating that 50% of components for combat aircraft must be made domestically. This proportion will rise to 60% by the end of the LCA programme
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd will manufacture the 83 aircraft under an INR45,696 crore ($6.25 billion) contract, working with a supply chain and development base of about 500 Indian companies.
The Mk 1A fighter includes an AESA radar, BVR missiles, an EW suite and an air-to-air refuelling capability.
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The latest purchase of F-16V combat aircraft comes as the country presses ahead with its long-held plans to modernise its air combat capabilities and invest in the replacement of ageing Russian aircraft.
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