The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to order 100 more Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A fighter jets in addition to the 83 aircraft that have already been ordered. The decision was made by the IAF’s top brass at a meeting on August 24, 2023.

The LCA Tejas Mk1A is an upgraded version of the LCA Tejas Mk1, which is currently in service with the IAF. The Mk1A has a number of improvements over the Mk1, including a more powerful engine, a longer range, and a more advanced avionics suite.

The IAF is looking to replace its aging fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets with the LCA Tejas Mk1A. The MiG-21s were inducted into the IAF in the 1960s and are now nearing the end of their service life.

The order for the additional 100 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets is expected to be placed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Indian state-owned aerospace company that manufactures the aircraft. The cost of the order is estimated to be around ₹80,000 crore (US$10 billion).

The delivery of the first LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets is expected to begin in 2024. The IAF plans to have a total of 200 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets in its fleet by 2030.

The order for the additional 100 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets is a major boost for the Indian aerospace industry. It will help to create jobs and boost the country’s defense capabilities.

The LCA Tejas Mk1A is a significant improvement over the Mk1. It is equipped with a more powerful engine, which gives it a longer range and higher payload capacity. It also has a more advanced avionics suite, which includes a radar with active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology. This makes the Tejas Mk1A more capable of engaging enemy aircraft in beyond-visual-range combat.

The LCA Tejas Mk1A is also equipped with a number of other advanced features, such as an infrared search and track (IRST) system and a helmet-mounted display. These features make the Tejas Mk1A a highly capable fighter jet that can meet the needs of the IAF in the 21st century.

Here is some more information about the LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jet:

• The Tejas Mk1A is powered by a single General Electric F414-INS6 engine, which produces 98 kilonewtons of thrust. This gives the aircraft a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 and a range of 3,500 kilometers.
• The Tejas Mk1A is equipped with a multimode radar with AESA technology. This radar can track multiple targets simultaneously and guide missiles to them. The aircraft also has an infrared search and track (IRST) system, which can be used to detect and track enemy aircraft at night or in bad weather.
• The Tejas Mk1A is armed with a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and bombs. It can also carry a gun pod for self-defense.
• The Tejas Mk1A is a highly maneuverable aircraft. It has a delta wing design, which gives it good low-speed handling and high-altitude performance. The aircraft is also equipped with thrust vectoring nozzles, which allow it to perform tight turns and high-g maneuvers.

The LCA Tejas Mk1A is a capable fighter jet that meets the needs of the Indian Air Force. It is a modern aircraft with advanced avionics and weapons systems. The order for the additional 100 aircraft is a major boost for the Indian aerospace industry and will help to ensure that the country has a strong air defense capability in the years to come.

Here are some of the benefits of the LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jet:

• Tejas Mk1A is a domestically produced aircraft, which means that India does not have to rely on foreign suppliers for its fighter jets.
• Tejas Mk1A is a cost-effective aircraft, which makes it affordable for the Indian Air Force.
• Tejas Mk1A is a reliable aircraft, with over 4,300 test flights completed without incident.
• Tejas Mk1A is a versatile aircraft, capable of performing a variety of missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, and reconnaissance.

The LCA Tejas Mk1A is a significant step forward for the Indian Air Force. It is a modern aircraft with advanced avionics and weapons systems that will help to ensure that the country has a strong air defense capability in the years to come.