India Orders 97 Tejas Fighters

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received a request for proposal from the Indian Ministry of Defense for 97 light fighters, marking the largest-ever order for these aircraft. The Tejas fighters, also known as Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), are crucial for the Indian air force, which currently falls short of its mandated squadron levels. HAL confirmed receiving the solicitation but couldn't specify when a pricing proposal would be provided. The expected cost of the contract is estimated to exceed INR650 billion or roughly US$7.8 billion. This order represents HAL's second contract for the Tejas, following a previous $6.5 billion deal in January 2021 for 73 single-seat and 10 twin-seat trainer aircraft. The newer Tejas version, LCA Mk1A, features advancements such as an advanced electronic warfare suite, active electronically scanned array radar, maintenance improvements, and the ability to fire beyond-visual-range missiles.