Drumil Modi, Pune
The Indian Air Force in an announcement on 17 September 2023, formally declared plans to purchase around 100 made-in-India LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, supporting the domestic aerospace sector. The plan was announced in Spain by Indian Air Force Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari upon receiving the first C-295 transport aircraft.
At the Airbus aircraft manufacturing plant, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari explained that the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) had been designed from the beginning as a replacement for the extensive MiG series fleet, which included aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27. Given the retirement of all these aircraft, it was crucial to ensure a sufficient quantity of LCA class aircraft in their inventory. Therefore, in addition to the 83 LCA Mark 1A aircraft for which they had already entered into a contract, they were in the process of proposing a case for acquiring approximately 100 more aircraft.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) intends to replace its fleet’s MiG-series fighter fighters with these made-in-India aircraft. The Defense Ministry and all other parties involved in national security have received the blueprints.
Last month, the head of the Indian Air Force met to discuss the indigenous fighter jet program with all partners involved, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. At that time, it was decided to purchase a further 100 of these aircraft.
The new order placed would mean that the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft would come to dominate the arsenal of the Indian Air Force with over 180 LCA Mark – 1A aircraft and at least another 120 LCA Mark – 2 aircraft in the coming 15 years.
The last LCA Mark1A order included 83 aircraft, and the first jet was scheduled to be delivered in February 2024. The LCA Mark 1A is an upgraded version of the Tejas aircraft. The 40 original LCAs provided to the Air Force have been replaced with the LCA Mark 1A, which has more sophisticated avionics and radars.
More than 65% of the new LCA Mark 1A will contain indigenous components. The LCA has been the banner deliverer of the Indian Air Force’s sweats towards the indigenisation of its aircraft line, the force’s chief simply declared in the design review conference last month.
The initiative served as the precursor of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the national Make in India initiative. More significantly, it is a symbol of India’s aerospace industry reliance.