- India’s Defence Ministry to Hold Crucial Meeting on Major Fighter Aircraft Projects.
- The Indian Defence Ministry is set to deliberate on two of the country’s largest fighter aircraft projects, collectively valued at 1.3 lakh crore rupees.
- The agenda will include discussions on the acquisition of the advanced 97 new Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A.
- Upgrading the SU-30 MKI jets will modernize and enhance the technical capabilities of India’s existing fleet, contributing to the overall strength of the country’s air defense.
- The Indian Air Force has already ordered 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter planes, and their deliveries are expected to start in February-March 2024.
The Defence Ministry is scheduled to take up two of India’s biggest-ever fighter aircraft projects worth ₹ 1.3 lakh crore for discussion in a crucial meeting this week, including buying 97 new LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft and indigenously upgrading 84 Su-30 MKI combat planes.
Sources said the 97 LCA Mark1A project would help the country build a strong fighter aircraft manufacturing ecosystem across the country and also help the Indian Air Force replace its MiG-21 fleet, which is being phased out. The two projects are listed for discussion at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting planned for November 30.
The Indian Air Force has already ordered 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter planes, and their deliveries are expected to start in February-March 2024. The value of the 97 aircraft is expected to be around ₹ 65,000 crore, which would be the largest ever fighter aircraft deal in the country.
The Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft project upgrade programme is also one of the biggest ever programmes planned to be done completely indigenously, where Indian weapons, sensors, and radars would be fitted on Russian-origin planes. The project is expected to cost around ₹ 64,000 crores.
The Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will be doing the complete design and development work on the aircraft, which includes equipping the aircraft with the latest Virupaksha AESA radars.
The Su-30 fighter jets are the mainstay of the Indian Air Force, with 260 of them already in service. The jets have been inducted in different batches and have now formed around 50 percent of the fighter fleet.
The Su-30MKI fleet upgrade plan is also seen by the Indian Air Force as an opportunity for exports, as many countries in Southeast Asia and Africa operate the plane and can use these solutions to provide advanced capabilities to their fleets.
The recent meeting focused on the acquisition of 97 new Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A and the indigenous upgrade of 84 SU-30 MKI fighter jets. The acquisition of LCA Mark 1A is a key step towards enhancing India’s air defense capabilities and promoting self-reliance in defense technology. Upgrading the SU-30 MKI jets will modernize and enhance the technical capabilities of India’s existing fleet, contributing to the overall strength of the country’s air defense. The projects are expected to generate employment, boost domestic manufacturing, and lead to economic benefits beyond the defense sector. The projects are aligned with India’s strategy of reducing foreign dependency on defense technology and preparing for complex geopolitical challenges.
(With inputs from agencies
