Indian Air Force initiates ~33,000-crore buy of 83 Tejas fighters

In a big step towards defence indigenisation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) a tender for 83 Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).

Late on Wednesday, HAL issued a brief note stating: “HAL has received Request for Proposal (RFP) for 83 LCAs from Indian Air Force.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the defence minister stated in a written reply in Parliament: “Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) has cleared acquisition of 83 LCA Mk 1A for IAF, production of which is planned from 2019-20…”

With HAL sources placing the ticket price of the Tejas Mark 1A at about ~400 crore per aircraft, the 83-fighter deal would generate ~33,200 crore worth of business to HAL and a range of Indian and foreign upstream suppliers.

At present, HAL is struggling to establish Tejas manufacture for 40 fighters already on order – 20 fighters in the initial operational configuration (IOC); followed by another 20 in the final operational configuration (FOC), when that is obtained.

Acknowledging the manufacturing delay in Parliament on Wednesday, the defence ministry stated: “Out of total 20 IOC aircraft (16 fighters and 4 trainers), 5 fighters have been delivered by HAL to IAF till date. The production of remaining 15 IOC aircraft (11 fighters + 4 trainers) are taken up at HAL.”