India orders 97 Tejas Mk-1A jets alongside Rafale Fighters as part of major fleet expansion
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On 19 August 2025, the Indian Ministry of Defence, as reported by IDRW, approved the acquisition of 97 additional Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), in a contract valued at approximately or around 7.4 billion US dollars. The decision, endorsed by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), represents a significant step in strengthening the IAF’s combat fleet while supporting the country’s long-standing “Make in India” initiative in the defense sector.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The HAL Tejas Mk-1A is a lightweight, multi-role fighter equipped with AESA radar, advanced avionics, electronic warfare systems, air-to-air refueling, and compatibility with a wide range of precision weapons, designed to enhance the Indian Air Force’s air defense and strike capabilities (Picture source: HAL).
The deal builds upon the earlier procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft, bringing the IAF’s projected fleet to about 180 units once deliveries are completed. This scale of acquisition marks the largest domestic fighter jet program undertaken by India and positions Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the Tejas, at the center of a substantial production and modernization effort. The announcement immediately resonated in financial markets, with HAL’s shares rising between three and four percent, reflecting the long-term industrial impact of the order.
The Tejas Mk-1A represents a modernized variant of the indigenous LCA program, incorporating more than 40 improvements over the initial versions. These include an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, advanced avionics and electronic warfare systems, air-to-air refueling capability, and compatibility with a wider range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. Together, these enhancements are expected to provide the IAF with a flexible and cost-effective multi-role fighter suited to both air defense and strike missions.
Alongside the Tejas order, the CCS also cleared the acquisition of six Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, raising the overall combined value of the approvals to about ₹85,500 crore. This complementary capability aims to reinforce India’s airborne surveillance and command networks, enabling the IAF to integrate the new fighter squadrons into a more resilient operational architecture.
The expansion of the Tejas fleet comes at a time when the IAF is seeking to replace its ageing MiG-21 aircraft and to maintain squadron strength amid regional security challenges. With deliveries scheduled over the next decade, HAL faces the task of ramping up production capacity while ensuring technological reliability and supply chain resilience. The program also underscores India’s ambition to reduce reliance on foreign platforms, a policy increasingly emphasized in defense acquisitions.
However, the Tejas order is part of a broader modernization drive that also includes high-profile foreign acquisitions. Between 2016 and 2022, India received 36 Dassault Rafale fighters from France, a deal worth around €7.8 billion, which provided the IAF with one of its most advanced fourth-generation-plus platforms. These aircraft, equipped with Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles and SCALP cruise missiles, have significantly enhanced India’s long-range strike and air superiority capabilities. More recently, India has also pursued discussions on acquiring 26 Rafale M fighters for the Indian Navy’s new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, highlighting the continued reliance on French platforms for advanced capability gaps. Discussions also started about the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
In parallel, India operates the Russian-origin Su-30MKI as the backbone of its fleet, with over 270 units in service, many of which are undergoing upgrades with improved avionics, radars, and weapon systems. The IAF also continues to field Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft, which are progressively being modernized but will eventually require replacement. The long-term goal is to field a balanced mix of imported high-end platforms like the Rafale, large numbers of modernized Su-30MKIs, and indigenous fighters such as the Tejas Mk-1A, Tejas Mk-2, and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
When placed in a regional context, the Tejas Mk-1A acquisition highlights India’s efforts to keep pace with evolving air power balances. Pakistan has steadily inducted the JF-17 Thunder, developed jointly with China, with Block III variants introducing AESA radars and modern missile systems. China, meanwhile, has fielded large numbers of J-10C fighters and continues to expand its fifth-generation J-20 program. Against this backdrop, the Tejas Mk-1A is not intended to rival the most advanced Chinese aircraft but rather to provide a domestically produced, reliable, and modern fighter to ensure squadron strength, free resources for higher-end imports, and sustain India’s defense industrial base.
By securing this approval, India has reaffirmed its commitment to indigenous defense manufacturing while maintaining a balanced fleet strategy. The new Tejas order, alongside the Rafale fleet and upgrades to existing aircraft, ensures a layered modernization approach for the IAF. It strengthens air combat capabilities in the short and medium term, supports domestic industry, and lays the groundwork for next-generation programs such as the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA, which will be crucial for India’s long-term strategic autonomy in the aerospace domain.
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On 19 August 2025, the Indian Ministry of Defence, as reported by IDRW, approved the acquisition of 97 additional Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), in a contract valued at approximately or around 7.4 billion US dollars. The decision, endorsed by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), represents a significant step in strengthening the IAF’s combat fleet while supporting the country’s long-standing “Make in India” initiative in the defense sector.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The HAL Tejas Mk-1A is a lightweight, multi-role fighter equipped with AESA radar, advanced avionics, electronic warfare systems, air-to-air refueling, and compatibility with a wide range of precision weapons, designed to enhance the Indian Air Force’s air defense and strike capabilities (Picture source: HAL).
The deal builds upon the earlier procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft, bringing the IAF’s projected fleet to about 180 units once deliveries are completed. This scale of acquisition marks the largest domestic fighter jet program undertaken by India and positions Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the Tejas, at the center of a substantial production and modernization effort. The announcement immediately resonated in financial markets, with HAL’s shares rising between three and four percent, reflecting the long-term industrial impact of the order.
The Tejas Mk-1A represents a modernized variant of the indigenous LCA program, incorporating more than 40 improvements over the initial versions. These include an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, advanced avionics and electronic warfare systems, air-to-air refueling capability, and compatibility with a wider range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. Together, these enhancements are expected to provide the IAF with a flexible and cost-effective multi-role fighter suited to both air defense and strike missions.
Alongside the Tejas order, the CCS also cleared the acquisition of six Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, raising the overall combined value of the approvals to about ₹85,500 crore. This complementary capability aims to reinforce India’s airborne surveillance and command networks, enabling the IAF to integrate the new fighter squadrons into a more resilient operational architecture.
The expansion of the Tejas fleet comes at a time when the IAF is seeking to replace its ageing MiG-21 aircraft and to maintain squadron strength amid regional security challenges. With deliveries scheduled over the next decade, HAL faces the task of ramping up production capacity while ensuring technological reliability and supply chain resilience. The program also underscores India’s ambition to reduce reliance on foreign platforms, a policy increasingly emphasized in defense acquisitions.
However, the Tejas order is part of a broader modernization drive that also includes high-profile foreign acquisitions. Between 2016 and 2022, India received 36 Dassault Rafale fighters from France, a deal worth around €7.8 billion, which provided the IAF with one of its most advanced fourth-generation-plus platforms. These aircraft, equipped with Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles and SCALP cruise missiles, have significantly enhanced India’s long-range strike and air superiority capabilities. More recently, India has also pursued discussions on acquiring 26 Rafale M fighters for the Indian Navy’s new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, highlighting the continued reliance on French platforms for advanced capability gaps. Discussions also started about the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
In parallel, India operates the Russian-origin Su-30MKI as the backbone of its fleet, with over 270 units in service, many of which are undergoing upgrades with improved avionics, radars, and weapon systems. The IAF also continues to field Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft, which are progressively being modernized but will eventually require replacement. The long-term goal is to field a balanced mix of imported high-end platforms like the Rafale, large numbers of modernized Su-30MKIs, and indigenous fighters such as the Tejas Mk-1A, Tejas Mk-2, and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
When placed in a regional context, the Tejas Mk-1A acquisition highlights India’s efforts to keep pace with evolving air power balances. Pakistan has steadily inducted the JF-17 Thunder, developed jointly with China, with Block III variants introducing AESA radars and modern missile systems. China, meanwhile, has fielded large numbers of J-10C fighters and continues to expand its fifth-generation J-20 program. Against this backdrop, the Tejas Mk-1A is not intended to rival the most advanced Chinese aircraft but rather to provide a domestically produced, reliable, and modern fighter to ensure squadron strength, free resources for higher-end imports, and sustain India’s defense industrial base.
By securing this approval, India has reaffirmed its commitment to indigenous defense manufacturing while maintaining a balanced fleet strategy. The new Tejas order, alongside the Rafale fleet and upgrades to existing aircraft, ensures a layered modernization approach for the IAF. It strengthens air combat capabilities in the short and medium term, supports domestic industry, and lays the groundwork for next-generation programs such as the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA, which will be crucial for India’s long-term strategic autonomy in the aerospace domain.
