The first LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft, a significant milestone in India’s indigenous fighter program, is slated for delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by July this year, as reported by defence officials to ANI. Originally planned for delivery in February-March, a brief delay due to technical reasons pushed back the schedule.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) conducted the first flight of the fighter last month, with ongoing integration trials expected to wrap up in the coming weeks before the aircraft is handed over to the IAF. The induction of this indigenous aircraft marks a crucial step towards self-reliance in the military sector, with potential plans to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate the event.
Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the LCA Mark 1A project, worth Rs 48,000 crore for 83 planes, has already been initiated, with another order anticipated to be worth Rs 65,000 crore for 97 planes by the end of the fiscal year. The Defence Ministry has issued a tender to HAL for the procurement of 97 Made-in-India LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, representing the largest indigenous military hardware order by the Indian government.
This initiative aims to replace aging aircraft in the IAF’s fleet and boost indigenization efforts in the defence sector. It is expected to provide significant business opportunities for small and medium enterprises engaged in defence production across the country.
Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on bolstering HAL’s capabilities aligns with his government’s focus on indigenous defence manufacturing. His historic sortie in the trainer variant of the indigenous fighter aircraft highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting Made-in-India defence solutions.
The announcement of acquiring 97 additional LCA Mark 1A fighter jets was made by IAF Chief VR Chaudhari during his visit to Spain, underscoring India’s ambitious plans to strengthen its indigenous fighter aircraft capabilities on the global stage.