The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, including 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seaters, along with associated equipment, for the Indian Air Force. The contract, valued at over Rs 623.7 billion (excluding taxes), was formalised on 25 September 2025. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2027-28 and be completed over six years.

These aircraft will feature over 64 per cent indigenous content and incorporate 67 additional items compared with the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021. Advanced indigenously developed systems such as the UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and control surface actuators will further strengthen India’s Aatmanirbharta initiatives in defence technology.

The project is supported by nearly 105 Indian companies engaged in manufacturing detailed components. Production is expected to generate close to 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually over six years, providing a significant boost to the domestic aerospace ecosystem.

The acquisition, under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, reflects the government’s focus on indigenisation. The LCA Mk1A, the most advanced variant of India’s indigenously designed fighter aircraft, will serve as a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force.