In a significant push to the Make in India initiative in the defence sector, the Indian government has approved a ₹62,000 crore deal to acquire 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The final clearance for the procurement was granted during a high-level meeting on Tuesday, paving the way for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to begin production, according to defence sources.

This will be the second major order for the LCA Mark 1A fighters after the government had earlier placed an order for 83 aircraft worth around ₹48,000 crore. The new acquisition will assist the IAF in phasing out its aging MiG-21 fleet, which is set to be retired in the coming weeks.

The indigenous fighter jet programme, strongly backed by the Defence Ministry and Air Headquarters, is expected to accelerate indigenisation and provide significant opportunities for small and medium enterprises engaged in the defence manufacturing sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a vocal advocate of HAL’s revival, with the state-owned aerospace major securing multiple contracts for indigenous fighter jets, helicopters, and engines. Notably, Modi had previously undertaken a sortie in the trainer variant of the indigenous fighter jet—the first time an Indian Prime Minister has flown in a combat aircraft.

The plan to induct 97 more LCA Mark 1A jets was first hinted at by former Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari during a visit to Spain, where he revealed India’s strategy to strengthen indigenous fighter aircraft orders.

The LCA Mark 1A comes with advanced avionics and radar systems compared to the earlier variants, and the new batch will have an indigenous content of more than 65 percent. The programme has become a cornerstone of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, symbolizing the country’s growing self-reliance in aerospace and defence technology.

Looking ahead, HAL is also expected to secure contracts for over 200 LCA Mark 2 jets and a similar number of fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), reinforcing India’s position as a key player in the global defence market.