HAL Tejas: ₹1.19 Lakh Cr, 220 Jets. From Underdog to Air Power King.

• India has ordered 220 HAL Tejas fighter jets worth ₹119,172 crore, making it a major indigenous defense procurement.
• The Tejas project, initially underestimated, is now crucial for India's air power and is replacing MiG-21 squadrons.
• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a third production line for Tejas in Nashik to boost manufacturing.
• Key orders include 83 and 97 units of the advanced Tejas Mk1A variant, featuring AESA radar and improved systems.
• The program supports over 500 MSMEs and private sector companies, with future plans for Tejas Mk2 and AMCA.

Why It Matters: India's HAL Tejas project, once ignored, is now vital for national air defense.