The Narendra Modi government at the Center has taken a big step towards self-reliance in the field of defence. The Defense Ministry has issued a tender worth Rs 65 thousand crore to the public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), under which 97 LCA Mark-1A fighter jets will be purchased from HAL. This is the largest order placed by the Government of India for indigenous military hardware. The Defense Ministry has given HAL three months to respond to the tender. If this deal goes through, the Indian Air Force's MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27 fighter planes will be replaced by Indian-made LCA Mark-1A fighter planes. This is a very important step towards promoting indigenous weapons.
This will also benefit the business of small and medium-sized companies in the defense sector. Prime Minister Modi is continuously promoting HAL and that is why HAL is getting deals to manufacture all types of indigenous war planes, helicopters and engines. The Air Force has already placed an order for 83 LCA Mark-1A fighter aircraft with HAL, the first aircraft of which will be handed over to the Air Force in a few weeks. LCA Mark-1A is a modernized version of Tejas aircraft. 97 Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhary first gave this information in Spain. Recently, he also held a review meeting on the issue of indigenous warplanes, in which HAL officials were also present.
India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise from Monday
The armies of India and Uzbekistan will begin joint military exercises in Tarmez, Uzbekistan from April 15. This is the fifth military exercise between the armies of the two countries, which will continue till April 28. 45-45 soldiers from both the countries will participate in this. Finally, in February last year, military exercises took place between the armies of both the countries in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.