New Delhi: In a major boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” defence initiative, India on Tuesday approved a ₹62,000 crore ($7.4 billion) project to procure 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

The final approval came at a high-level meeting and will pave the way for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce the aircraft, defence sources told ANI.

This is the second order for the LCA Mark 1A. The government had earlier placed orders for 83 jets worth about ₹48,000 crore.

The program is aimed at replacing the Air Force’s ageing MiG-21 fleet. Defence officials called the indigenous fighter program “a big boost for promoting indigenisation” and said it would provide significant business opportunities to small and medium enterprises across the country.

The plan to acquire 97 more LCA Mark 1A fighters was first announced by former Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari in Spain, when he told ANI about “the mega plans to boost the indigenous fighter aircraft orders.”

The Mark 1A version comes with more advanced avionics and radars than the initial 40 LCAs supplied to the Air Force, with indigenous content expected to exceed 65%.

Officials said the program has become “a flag bearer of India’s self-reliance in the aerospace sector” under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. HAL is also expected to secure contracts for more than 200 LCA Mark 2s and a similar number of fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.