Defence Ministry Awards HAL Rs 65,000 Crore Contract for 97 LCA Mark 1A Jets

The Indian government has taken a monumental step toward achieving self-reliance in the defense sector by issuing the largest ever order for indigenous military hardware. The Defence Ministry has placed a tender worth over Rs 65,000 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the purchase of 97 made-in-India LCA Mark 1A fighter jets. The LCA Mark 1A is an advanced version of the Tejas aircraft.

This ambitious move aims to modernize the Indian Air Force (IAF) by replacing its aging fleet of MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27 fighters, which are nearing or have already reached the end of their operational lifespan.

Government officials emphasize that this indigenous fighter aircraft program, backed strongly by the Defence Ministry and Air Headquarters, will provide a significant boost to indigenization and offer substantial business opportunities for small and medium enterprises in the country's defense sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has actively championed the revival of HAL, spearheading efforts to secure government contracts for building indigenous fighter aircraft, helicopters, and their engines. In a symbolic gesture, the Prime Minister became the first Indian PM to fly in a combat aircraft when he took a sortie in the trainer variant of the indigenous fighter.

The decision to acquire 97 additional LCA Mark 1A jets initially surfaced during a foreign visit to Spain by Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, who shared India's ambitious plans to expand its indigenous fighter aircraft fleet. This announcement followed a comprehensive review meeting of the program conducted by the Air Chief with key stakeholders, including HAL.

It's noteworthy that HAL previously received an order for 83 LCA Mark 1A aircrafts, with deliveries expected to begin shortly. Compared to the initial 40 LCAs already in service with the IAF, the LCA Mark 1A model incorporates more advanced avionics and radar systems, raising the overall indigenous content to an impressive 65%.

This initiative underscores India's unwavering commitment to achieving self-reliance in the aerospace sector, promoting the nation's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and "Make in India" missions. HAL also expects to receive future deals to supply over 200 LCA Mark 2s along with a similar quantity of advanced fifth-generation Medium Combat Aircraft.

 

[sanket]

First Thing is GE Should supply more than 24 Engines per so that More Tejas can Produce ,second is is it Tejas MK1B withh more Add on New Features.(Weapons/Kaveri Engine ..........??)

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

First Thing is GE Should supply more than 24 Engines per so that More Tejas can Produce ,second is is it Tejas MK1B withh more Add on New Features.(Weapons/Kaveri Engine ..........??)

Let HAL first prove they are capable of reaching a production output of 20 Tejas per year.

Their historical best has been 3-4 aircraft at most.

What is the point of crying wolf so early on?

 

[sanket]

Let HAL first prove they are capable of reaching a production output of 20 Tejas per year.

Their historical best has been 3-4 aircraft at most.

What is the point of crying wolf so early on?

how many Trainer have been delivered ...........?? Two MK1A are already produce . its not 3 or 4 .Production will pikup from this year and stabilise by 2026 to over 20 and it can b rampup to 32 Further. Dont even worry about it .its supply chain all about secondly production is depended on order now Once Deal is signed with what IAFs want new in this 97 Jets Production is goin to increase.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

its not 3 or 4

Bro, how many have they produced in an year in the past.

Gin ke theek theek bataa dei. Don't sprinkle fantasies like can/will/eye/gear/blah-blah, nobody has seen the future.

Tell us their best figure from the past. They have held production capacity of 16 aircrafts per year since at least February 2021 after they opened second production line.

 

[sanket]

Bro, how many have they produced in an year in the past.

Gin ke theek theek bataa dei. Don't sprinkle fantasies like can/will/eye/gear/blah-blah, nobody has seen the future.

Tell us their best figure from the past. They have held production capacity of 16 aircrafts per year since at least February 2021 after they opened second production line.

production is depend on order .world established players Like Dassault have delivered 36 Rafale within 66 Months after signing the deal .

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

production is depend on order .world established players Like Dassault have delivered 36 Rafale within 66 Months after signing the deal .

So, basically yo don't want to state the numbers, because it will blow holes in anybody enthusiastic of finally seeing Tejas in Indian Skies.

Trust me, I am just as keen in watching HAL flying with Indian colors in the sky in great numbers, but with lackey defence contractors like HAL at helm of affairs, its better to stay cautious and grounded than watch the bubble of expectation burst.

Now, coming to Contract.

HAL had signed an order in 2021 for 18 twin-seater Tejas trainer aircrafts with the IAF, with plans to deliver eight by the fiscal year 2023-24 and the remaining ten by 2026-27. Additional orders from the IAF were expected.

But so far only 2 LCA trainers have been delivered by HAL where 8 were supposed to by March-2024.

 

[Frank]

Great. Now order 300 Tejas mk2 and say bye bye to MRFA phoren mal

 

[Pramkumar]

Need to replace the GE 404 with Kaveri and indigenous ejection seats. And Quartz Radom is important

 

[Ashutosh]

Some new features that can be made for the new orders:

• pod based IRST
• Dual Rack Pylon for BVRAAMS
• removal of dead weight
• conformal fuel tanks( highly unlikely)
• Local production of F404
• Large Single screen cockpit

 

[Sudha]

production is depend on order .world established players Like Dassault have delivered 36 Rafale within 66 Months after signing the deal .

If that is the case the extra infra of 16 planes per year is a waste of taxpayers money. So basically what you are saying is to get salaries, HAL has jeopardised the nation's security.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Some new features that can be made for the new orders:

• pod based IRST
• Dual Rack Pylon for BVRAAMS
• removal of dead weight
• conformal fuel tanks( highly unlikely)
• Local production of F404
• Large Single screen cockpit

Bhai bhai bhai!

Jo hai, HAL waale utna hi banaa lein time par, it will be Godsent.

Don't give the guys at HAL new ideas for next excuse by coming up with another "Aap Ki Farmaish" list of features to be added to Tejas.

Inn ka corona abhi taknkhatm nahin huq, oopar sei aap IRST lagane ki maang kar di, toh delivery will easily shift to beyond 2035.

 

[Ashutosh]

Bhai bhai bhai!

Jo hai, HAL waale utna hi banaa lein time par, it will be Godsent.

Don't give the guys at HAL new ideas for next excuse by coming up with another "Aap Ki Farmaish" list of features to be added to Tejas.

Inn ka corona abhi taknkhatm nahin huq, oopar sei aap IRST lagane ki maang kar di, toh delivery will easily shift to beyond 2035.

Are bhai Mai to bas bol rha hu ki 73 ka order 2029 tak hi complete hoga ......agar 4 saal me minor upgrades nhi kiye to phir Su 30 jaisi halat ho jayegi..... phir bekar Mai ek faltu ka MAJOR UPGRADE ka bahana yhi log dege.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Are bhai Mai to bas bol rha hu ki 73 ka order 2029 tak hi complete hoga ......agar 4 saal me minor upgrades nhi kiye to phir Su 30 jaisi halat ho jayegi..... phir bekar Mai ek faltu ka MAJOR UPGRADE ka bahana yhi log dege.

"Minor upgrade" woh aap ko lag raga. Implement karne mei inn ko varshon lag jayenge.
Kaam karne ka sunte hi gend phat jaati hai HAL ke baabuon ki.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

how many Trainer have been delivered ...........?? Two MK1A are already produce . its not 3 or 4 .Production will pikup from this year and stabilise by 2026 to over 20 and it can b rampup to 32 Further. Dont even worry about it .its supply chain all about secondly production is depended on order now Once Deal is signed with what IAFs want new in this 97 Jets Production is goin to increase.

There is something called track record which a company needs to build up visibly. Currently, HAL's track record is pathetic at best and the only uncontested track record of HAL is of delays. You can cry for lack of orders but teh fact is that even the previous order of 73 Tejas Mk1A jets in 2021 was substantial enough for the supply chain. Even that has not happened and the deliveries are delayed as usual. You can boast that deliveries can be ramped up to 32 per year, but honestly no one believes that, probably not even HAL itself.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Bhai bhai bhai!

Jo hai, HAL waale utna hi banaa lein time par, it will be Godsent.

Don't give the guys at HAL new ideas for next excuse by coming up with another "Aap Ki Farmaish" list of features to be added to Tejas.

Inn ka corona abhi taknkhatm nahin huq, oopar sei aap IRST lagane ki maang kar di, toh delivery will easily shift to beyond 2035.

I can bet you that anyway HAL will come up ingenous excuses for delays. 73 ka order poora karte karte HAL waalon ke pote paida ho jayenge !!

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

If that is the case the extra infra of 16 planes per year is a waste of taxpayers money. So basically what you are saying is to get salaries, HAL has jeopardised the nation's security.

Wouldn't be the first time they bluffed on promised delivery schedule. They indeed have a well deserved reputation of promising the moon, while failing to deliver even peanuts.

 

[Sommyarup Roy]

Hal remains the only roadblock now with paltry production rate.

 

[Pink Panther]

First Thing is GE Should supply more than 24 Engines per so that More Tejas can Produce ,second is is it Tejas MK1B withh more Add on New Features.(Weapons/Kaveri Engine ..........??)

Still ordering for more than 6 months now. Wi IAF really order?

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Now it's better for HAL to stop thinking of export of Tejas. Stream line the production and deliver all 180 MK1A by 2030... Coz I think by then 200 mk2 production will start...