25
Sep
New Delhi, September 25: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday signed a landmark agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets worth ₹62,370 crore, excluding taxes. The deal builds on a previous order of 83 jets in February 2021, taking the total number of Tejas Mark-1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to 180.The latest contract includes 68 single-seater fighters and 29 twin-seater trainers, along with associated equipment. Deliveries will begin in 2027-28 and continue over six years. According to the MoD, the upgraded jets will carry more than 64 percent indigenous content…