13th APRIL 2024 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
India to buy 97 Tejas fighter jets
- The Ministry of Defense has awarded a tender to public sector aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the purchase of 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA MK-1A) for the Indian Air Force. It has given 3 months time to respond.
- Central government officials have confirmed this. If the plan is finalized, it will be the Indian Army's largest purchase of indigenously produced military equipment. The procurement of these new fighter jets is expected to cost around Rs 67,000 crore.
- Hindustan Aeronautical Limited is set to fulfill the Ministry of Defence's previous order for 40 Tejas Mark 1 fighter jets (two squadrons) soon. Subsequently, the Ministry of Defense awarded a contract for 83 Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets (four squadrons) worth Rs 45,700 crore in February 2021.
- Accordingly, five new squadrons (97 Tejas Mark 1A) have been ordered in addition to the six Tejas squadrons already ordered. This takes the number of indigenous Tejas fighters to 11 squadrons.
