New Delhi/IBNS: India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme is set to cross a key milestone, with the first two of 10 Tejas Mark 1A jets expected to be delivered by the end of September, Defence Secretary RK Singh announced at NDTV’s Defence Summit on Saturday.

Underscoring the importance of self-reliance in the defence sector, Singh said, “It is a strategic imperative now that we need to be self-reliant in order to maintain our strategic autonomy. The only way we can do that is by ensuring that the bulk of our defence needs are met within the country. Since Prime Minister Modi's government came to power in 2014, the focus on self-reliance has been relentless.”

The Tejas programme, developed by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), is India’s first homegrown light combat aircraft project. The Tejas Mark 1A, a modernised version of the Tejas Mark 1, incorporates several upgrades including advanced electronic warfare systems, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile capability, and improved maintainability.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a ₹48,000 crore contract with HAL in 2021 for 83 Tejas Mark 1A aircraft, marking one of the largest deals for indigenous defence production. Deliveries are scheduled in phases through 2029, with the first batch now set to take flight within weeks.

Defence analysts note that the Tejas project is not just about inducting new fighter jets but also about reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, particularly at a time of shifting global alliances and rising security challenges.

According to NDTV, Singh reiterated that “strategic autonomy” hinges on India’s ability to produce and maintain cutting-edge defence platforms domestically—a vision aligned with the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative.