The production of indigenous fighter LCA (light combat aircraft) Tejas is being ramped up from eight to 16 a year.
Minister of State for Defence Shri Rao Inderjit Singh told Parliament on Tuesday that the proposal of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for ramping up of LCA production by HAL is being processed.
He said a total expenditure of Rs. 1,259 crore has been proposed for the ramping up. Of this, 50 per cent funding will come from HAL, 25 per cent from the Indian Air Force and remaining 25 per cent from the Indian Navy. The ramping up will be completed in 36 months from the date of sanction.
A case for additional 80 LCAs with four essential capabilities — Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, Beyond Visual Range missiles, Air to Air Refuelling capability and Electronic Warfare suite — in the upgraded version LCA Mk 1A is also being progressed for placing orders, he said.
