The government has taken a huge step towards self-reliance in defense matters. The Defense Ministry has issued a tender worth Rs 65 thousand crore to the Indian public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Under this, 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets will be purchased from HAL. This could be the largest order placed by the Government of India for indigenous military hardware.
The Ministry of Defence releases a tender worth ₹65,000 crore to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the acquisition of 97 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. 🇮🇳 #IAF #HAL #Tejas #PowerCorridors pic.twitter.com/TKKzwNt9oZ
— POWER CORRIDORS (@power_corridors) April 12, 2024
LCA Mark 1A aircraft will replace MiG fighter jets
The Defense Ministry has given HAL three months to respond to the tender. If this deal is done, then the Indian Air Force’s fighter jets like MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27 will be replaced by Indian-made LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, which will soon be retired from the Air Force. This is a very important step towards promoting indigenous weapons. This will also benefit the business of small and middle class companies in the defense sector.
Prime Minister Modi is continuously promoting HAL and that is why HAL is getting deals to manufacture all types of indigenous fighter jets, helicopters and engines. Additionally, HAL is expected to close deals to purchase more than 200 LCA Mark 2s and a comparable quantity of fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
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The Air Force has already placed an order for 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets to HL, under which the first fighter jet will be delivered to the Air Force in a few weeks. LCA Mark 1A is the modernized version of Tejas aircraft. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari had given information for the first time in Spain about the deal of 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets.
Recently, the Air Force Chief had also held a review meeting regarding the program of indigenous fighter jets, in which HAL officials also participated.
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India and Uzbekistan will undergo joint military exercise
The armies of India and Uzbekistan will start joint military exercises from April 15. This is the fifth edition of the Dustalik exercise between the armies of the two countries. This time this joint exercise is taking place in Tarmez district of Uzbekistan. This exercise will run from 15 to 28 April 2024.
The fourth edition of the joint military exercise between the two countries was organized in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand in February last year. 45-45 soldiers from the armies of both the countries will participate in this exercise. The Indian contingent includes soldiers of the infantry battalion of the Garhwal Regiment.
