India has finalized a $7-billion contract to acquire 97 domestically designed Tejas fighter jets, marking one of its largest-ever single fighter jet orders. The move comes as the Indian Air Force phases out its aging Russian-built MiG-21 fleet after decades of service.
The new order covers the upgraded Tejas Mk-1A, consisting of 68 fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, according to the Ministry of Defence. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027–28 and conclude within six years.
The Tejas program, first inducted into the Air Force in 2016, represents a major push in India’s drive for defense modernization and self-reliance. The aircraft are produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with contributions from over 100 domestic companies, achieving an indigenous content of more than 64 percent.
India, one of the world’s top arms importers, is prioritizing domestic production amid heightened regional tensions, particularly with Pakistan, with which it last clashed militarily in May during a brief but intense four-day conflict.
