By Ayomide Otitoju
India has signed a $7 billion agreement to acquire 97 indigenously designed Tejas fighter jets as the country phases out its ageing fleet of Russian-made MiG-21 aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that the contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) covers 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat variants of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027–28 and will be completed over six years.
The Tejas, meaning “brilliance” in Hindi, was first inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016. The latest order secures the most advanced version of the aircraft, which the ministry described as “a potent platform” for modern air combat operations.
The procurement is part of India’s wider push to modernise its armed forces and expand domestic defence production. The country, one of the world’s largest arms importers, is also bolstering capabilities in response to regional threats, particularly from neighbouring Pakistan.
On Friday, the Air Force will hold a flypast in Chandigarh to mark the final flight of the Soviet-era MiG-21s, which have served since the 1960s.
India has also diversified its acquisitions, including a multi-billion-dollar deal signed in April for 26 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation, adding to an existing fleet of 36 Rafales. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has further announced plans to collaborate with French partners to develop and manufacture fighter jet engines domestically.
Recent milestones in India’s defence sector include the commissioning of its first indigenously built aircraft carrier, new warships and submarines, and the inauguration of a major helicopter factory. The country has also advanced in missile technology, successfully testing a long-range hypersonic missile and, this week, an Agni-Prime ballistic missile mounted on a railway-based launch system.
