BENGALURU: After months of negotiations, the Rs 46,898-crore order for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-1A was finally signed on Wednesday. Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will now start producing the aircraft.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that there are multiple friendly countries that are interested in the Tejas and that there may be orders from them too.
HAL chairman and managing director R Madhavan said that the PSU will start delivering the first batch of aircraft in 36 months from Wednesday. The PSU has nine years to complete the orders.
The PSU, at present has the capacity to manufacture eight LCAs per year, which it will now augment the same to 16 with a second dedicated plant in Doddanekundi which was inaugurated by Singh on Tuesday.