LCA Tejas: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is expected to formally place a large order for indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas with public sector aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This order for 83 more Tejas fighters will be in addition to the earlier order for 40 jets to be supplied by Bengaluru based HAL.
Tejas fighter jets manufactured under the new order will be equipped with advanced indigenously developed avionics and radars. With this order, the total number of Tejas aircraft by the IAF will reach 123.
The approval for additional 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was given in 2016 by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The request for proposal was issued by the IAF in 2017 and the proposal and proposal was submitted by the HAL in March 2018.
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However, the negotiations have been stuck over the price of the aircraft. According to highly placed sources, the pricing will be discussed with a costing committee and a contract is expected to be signed soon.
The total cost for the new order of 83 LCA Tejas fighter jets is expected to touch Rs 45,000 crore.
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The HAL has so far signed two contracts with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the supply of 20 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in initial operational clearance (IOC) configuration and another 20 aircraft in final operational clearance (FOC) configuration.
