India Approves Deal To Buy 83 Tejas Aircraft For Rs 48,000 Crore
Deliveries for the indigineously built Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. aircraft will start after three years of signing a contract.
The central government on Wednesday approved the procurement of 83 indigenously-developed light combat aircraft Tejas for the Indian Air Force at a cost of Rs 48,000 crore.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
In a tweet, Singh said the deal will be a "game-changer" for self-reliance in defence manufacturing in India.
The defence minister said Tejas is going to be the backbone of the fighter fleet of the Indian Air Force in years to come.
Around three years back, the IAF had issued an initial tender for procurement of 83 Tejas aircraft, a four-and-half generation combat jet.
The defence minister said that aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. 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," he said.
Singh said the Tejas programme would act as a catalyst for transforming the Indian aerospace manufacturing ecosystem into a vibrant, self-sustaining one.