The government has approved the proposed procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fighter jets and six advanced airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Indian Air Force at a cost of around Rs 85,000 crore, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The two procurement projects were learnt to have been given the green light by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they said.

The Tejas jets will be procured at a cost of around Rs 67,000 crore, while the AEW&C project will cost the exchequer around Rs 18,000 crore, it is learnt.