Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has secured a contract worth more than INR 623.7 billion from the Ministry of Defence to supply 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. The order includes 68 fighter variants and 29 twin-seater aircraft, along with associated equipment, for the Indian Air Force. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027–28 and will be completed over a six-year period.
According to HAL, the aircraft will have an indigenous content of over 64 percent, incorporating 67 additional items compared to the earlier LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021. The new configuration will integrate indigenously developed systems such as the UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and control surface actuators.
The company stated that nearly 105 Indian firms are directly engaged in component manufacturing for the programme. Production is expected to generate approximately 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually over the six-year delivery period.
The acquisition falls under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is a state-owned aerospace and defence company headquartered in Bengaluru. It designs, manufactures, and maintains aircraft, helicopters, engines, and related systems for military and civil applications.
