NEW DELHI (Agencies): The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a tender to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of an additional 97 Tejas Mk 1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). This move comes as part of India’s ongoing efforts to bolster its air force capabilities.
The proposed acquisition, which is estimated to be worth INR650 billion (approximately USD7.7 billion), was disclosed by an industry source on April 12. This potential procurement of 97 aircraft is in addition to the 73 Mk 1As and 10 trainers that the Indian Air Force (IAF) ordered in 2021.
The tender document for the 97 Mk 1As was reportedly issued in March 2024. This document, similar to a request for quote (RFQ), will be evaluated by HAL. It is understood that HAL has a three-month window to respond to the document. The source also indicated that the “value of the proposed acquisition could change”, suggesting that the final contract amount may vary.