New Delhi, Dec. 26 -- The Indian military is on course to bolster its combat readiness with the induction of a raft of weapons and systems next year, including fighter jets, warships, an indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, locally made transport planes and missiles, people aware of the matter said on Thursday. The key platforms that will enter service include the light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A), nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Aridhaman, some Project 17A stealth frigates, India-made C-295 transport aircraft, Akash next-generation surface-to-air missiles, and drones for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), the people said. The induction of the delayed LCA Mk-1A is among the most awaited ones. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) plans to deliver at least five LCA Mk-1As to the Indian Air Force by the end of financial year 2025-26. The IAF has so far placed two separate orders for a total of 180 LCA Mk-1As with a combined value of Rs.1.1 lakh crore to shore up its fighter fleet, with the first contract for 83 jets inked in February 2021, then a second one for 97 fighters in September 2025. To be sure, not a single plane has been delivered thus far, and the first aircraft under the 2021 order was to be delivered in March 2024. Another key commissioning in early 2026 will be that of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, Aridhaman. The United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China are the only other countries that can deliver nuclear warheads from a submarine. India's first indigenous SSBN, the 6,000-tonne INS Arihant, was commissioned nine years ago. The IAF will induct its first India-made C-295 transport aircraft next year under a Rs.21,935-crore contract being jointly executed by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. The defence ministry inked this contract with Airbus Defence and Space for 56 planes in September 2021. The European aircraft maker has already delivered 16 planes in fly-away condition, while the rest are being assembled in India at a Tata facility in Gujarat's Vadodara city....