Welcoming the government's approval to the Tejas deal, chief of state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited R Madhavan on Wednesday described it as a major shot in the arm towards India's goal of achieving self-reliance in the aerospace and aeronautics sector.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the much-awaited deal worth Rs 48,000 crore to procure 83 indigenously-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas from the HAL to boost Indian Air Force's combat prowess.Madhavan, chairman and managing director of the HAL, said the production rate of Tejas is being augmented from eight to 16 aircraft per year through creation of new infrastructure in Bengaluru.
"Thanks to the government, the Tejas programme has received a major shot in the arm in boosting the Atamanirbhar (self-reliance) drive in aerospace and aeronautics," he said when asked about the government's approval.
"Tejas would have the highest level indigenisation in comparison to any programme of this scale with progressive indigenisation of critical technologies," he said.
In a statement, the Defence Ministry said the government approved procurement of 73 LCA Tejas of Mk-1A variant and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft.
The Tejas Mk-1A will be equipped with active electronically scanned array radar, beyond visual range missile, electronic warfare suite and air-to-air refuelling and would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of the IAF, officials said.
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