Foreign media: India signs contracts worth around 7 billion US dollars to purchase 97 domestically-produced "Tejas" fighter jets.

According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Indian Express, and other media outlets, India announced on the 25th local time that it has signed a contract worth about 7 billion dollars to purchase 97 domestically designed and manufactured "Tejas" fighter jets. The aging Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets, which have been in service with the Indian Air Force for several decades, will be retired. Agence France-Presse reported that the Indian Ministry of Defense announced that it has signed a contract with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to purchase 97 Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A, including 68 fighter jets and 29 twin-seater aircraft. The Indian Ministry of Defense stated, "The delivery of these aircraft will begin between 2027 and 2028 and will be completed within six years."