The Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally requested an additional 97 Tejas Mark-IA fighter jets from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), following preliminary approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). This significant step aims to greatly expand the IAF’s fleet of indigenous light combat aircraft. The new Tejas Mark-IA jets are designed with over 65% indigenous content, reinforcing India’s push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing, and boast substantial capability upgrades over the original Tejas Mk-1, featuring key enhancements in avionics, electronic warfare systems, and weapon capabilities.
