Indian Air Force all set to acquire 83 Tejas LCA, deal to be signed with HAL soon: Sources

The Indian Air Force will be acquiring 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) soon as negotiations between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are almost done, sources said on Tuesday, adding that it is likely that a deal will be signed for the same, ending a delay in negotiations over the price of the aircraft.

"The cost negotiating committee is almost finished with the price negotiations of the aircraft. Once it is done, IAF will enter into a deal with the HAL," a senior IAF official told news agency IANS.

The deal is expected to cost the IAF in the range of Rs 45,000 crore. The Tejas LCA aircraft, of the Mark 1A variant, reportedly has improved serviceability, faster weapon-loading time, enhanced survivability, a better electronic warfare suite and an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that will significantly enhance its capability.

In December 2017, the IAF had issued a single-vendor tender to the HAL for acquiring 83 LCA.

All the details for Tejas - India's Light Combat Aircraft - can be found on its official website.

(With Zee Media Newsroom inputs)