The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has cleared a ₹62,000 crore deal for the acquisition of 97 Tejas Mark 1A fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), in a major step towards boosting the country’s indigenous defence capabilities.
The order will be executed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and adds to the earlier procurement of 83 Tejas Mark 1A jets, raising the total to 180 aircraft. The new fleet is expected to replace the aging MiG-21 fighters, which are being phased out.
The Tejas Mark 1A comes with advanced avionics, modern radar systems and over 65% indigenous components, strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The announcement has also lifted market sentiment, with HAL shares rising by nearly 3–4% after the approval. HAL is expected to begin deliveries of the aircraft soon, with engines from General Electric already arriving to support production.
Defence officials said the deal underscores the government’s commitment to modernising the IAF and promoting domestic defence production.
