The delivery schedule for the Indian Air Force's (IAF) second major order of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft has become clearer, as a recent defence ministry document stated that deliveries will begin in September 2027 and be completed by September 2033.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed the contract on September 25, 2025, for the supply of 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft, along with associated equipment, to the IAF.
According to the defence ministry document, deliveries of the aircraft "would commence from September, 2027 and would be completed by September, 2033."
The contract covers 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft, comprising 68 fighters and 29 twin-seaters.
The defence ministry had, in September 2025, signed the contract with HAL at a cost of more than ₹62,370 crore, excluding taxes. At the time, the ministry had said deliveries would begin during 2027-28 and be completed over six years. The latest document now provides a more specific timeline, placing the beginning of deliveries in September 2027 and completion in September 2033.
The defence ministry document also listed the expansion of LCA Mk1A production capacity as an achievement.
To increase production, a third LCA production line was established at HAL's Nashik facility with a capacity to manufacture eight aircraft annually. This has taken HAL's overall LCA production capacity to 24 aircraft per year.
The 97-aircraft order will have indigenous content of more than 64 per cent. It incorporates 67 additional items over and above those included in the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021.
The aircraft will also integrate indigenously developed systems including the UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach and control surface actuators.
The acquisition is being undertaken under the Buy (India-IDDM) category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
The LCA Mk1A is the most advanced variant of the indigenously designed and manufactured fighter aircraft and is intended to meet the operational requirements of the IAF.
