Defence ministry inks deal with HAL for 97 more Tejas jets

NEW DELHI: Under the Rs 66,500-crore declaration inked by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) with the defence ministry connected Thursday, 97 further Tejas Mark-1 A combatant craft volition beryllium delivered by the PSU implicit a six-year play opening 2027-28.Significantly, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is yet to get adjacent the archetypal of the 83 'improved' Tejas Mark-1A jets ordered by the ministry for Rs 46,898 crore successful 2021. Under the agreement, the archetypal pitchy was to beryllium delivered by Feb past year, with each 83 coming successful by Feb 2028.The caller declaration entails transportation of 68 fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, on with associated equipment, astatine a outgo of implicit Rs. 62,370 crore, which goes up to astir Rs 66,500 crore if taxes are included.

TOI was the archetypal to study that the caller woody would beryllium inked connected Thursday."The woody for 97 Tejas Mark-1A is simply a large milestone for HAL and volition supply a important boost to India's indigenous and aerospace manufacturing capabilities. These craft person much indigenous contented compared to erstwhile jets," HAL main Dr D K Sunil told TOI.Asked astir the continuing hold successful transportation of the earlier 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets, the HAL main said, "The superior bottleneck was the proviso of F404 engines from US steadfast General Electric (HAL had ordered 99 engines for Rs 5,375 crore successful Aug 2021) connected time.

Other issues related to bundle and radar person besides faced hurdles but are expected to beryllium resolved shortly."Noting that HAL has expanded its accumulation capableness by mounting up different accumulation enactment successful Nashik, to adhd to the 2 existing ones astatine Bengaluru, Sunil said, "As of today, we person 10 Tejas Mark-1A craft ready. So far, we person received 3 GE engines. We expect that we shall beryllium capable to present astatine slightest 2 craft to IAF adjacent month."GE has assured america that they volition ramp up motor deliveries and springiness america 12 engines this twelvemonth and 20 engines successful the adjacent fiscal," helium added. For the caller 97-jet contract, HAL volition soon ink a woody with GE for 113 much engines for implicit $1 billion.