NEW DELHI, Sept. 26 -- The defence ministry on Thursday signed a Rs.62,370-crore contract with aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to buy 97 more light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1As) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force which is wrestling with a worrying shortage of fighter jets. The delivery of these aircraft will begin in 2027-28 and be wrapped up over six years, the defence ministry said. The aircraft ordered include 68 fighter jets and 29 twin-seat trainers. The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the deal in August. "The aircraft will have an indigenous content of over 64%, with 67 additional items incorporated, over and above the previous LCA Mk-1A. The integration of advanced indigenously developed systems such as the Uttam AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach (electronic warfare suite), and control surface actuators will further strengthen the Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiatives," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the project will be supported by a vendor base of nearly 105 Indian companies directly engaged in the manufacture of components. The acquisition, under the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, is in sync with the government's thrust on indigenisation. IDDM stands for indigenously designed, developed and manufactured. "The LCA Mk-1A is the most advanced variant of the indigenously designed and manufactured fighter aircraft and will serve as a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of the IAF," the ministry said. The timing of the deal has come as a bit of a surprise as it was expected to be signed only after the state-run firm handed over to the air force the first two of 83 such jets already ordered in February 2021 for Rs.48,000 crore to shore up the air force's fighter fleet. Two LCA Mk-1As are currently undergoing crucial weapon trials involving the ASRAAM (advanced short-range air-to-air missile). These trials will be followed by the Astra beyond visual range air-to-air (BVRAAR) firing, which has to be cleared by the CEMILAC's (Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification) safety review board. The first deliveries to IAF will take place in October after the completion of the weapon trials. IAF has been concerned about the pace of the LCA Mk-1A programme because of the possible risks a delay in the induction of new fighters could pose to its operational readiness. The new contract was signed a day before the IAF phases out the last of its MiG-21 fighter jets. The delayed LCA Mk-1As will replace the Soviet-origin aircraft. HAL is now expected to sign a $1 billion deal with GE Aerospace for 113 F404-IN20 engines to power the 97 new fighter jets. The air force is grappling with a shortage of jets and operates around 30 fighter squadrons compared to an authorised 42.5. The new contract shows that the IAF reposes a lot of trust in HAL, said strategic affairs expert Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd). "Now the onus is on HAL to clear the backlog and deliver quickly so that the air force can get back its numbers," he added....