The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Wednesday handed over the first trainer version of the twin seater Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru. Seven more LCA twin seater aircraft will be delivered next year, the HAL said.
LCA Tejas Twin Seater
During the handing over, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said that the IAF would be going forward to procure 97 more LCAs.
The LCA Tejas Twin Seater is a light weight, all weather multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft. “It is designed to support the training requirements of the IAF and augment itself to the role of a fighter in case of necessity. It is an amalgamation of contemporary concepts and technologies such as quadraplex fly-by-wire flight control, carefree manoeuvring, advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems and advanced composite materials for the airframe,” HAL said in a statement.
The union Cabinet in 2021 had approved procurement of 83 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft at a cost of Rs 45,696 crore.
Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said, “I am proud to be a part of this historic occasion and salute the spirit of the HAL which has been spearheading swadeshi manufacturing in defence. In all, the development of the LCA Tejas has also brought about a shift in our approach to defence procurement. It has demonstrated that India has the talent, knowledge and capability to design, develop and manufacture world-class fighters.”
HAL has an order of 18 twin seater from IAF and is planning to deliver eight twin seater in FY 2023-24. Further, 10 twin seaters would be delivered progressively by 2026-27. Further orders are also expected from IAF.
LCA- Tejas is the largest R-D program ever undertaken in India making its maiden flight in 2001 and has achieved various milestones since then. It is going to be the backbone of the IAF fleet in years to come and is slated to be produced in high numbers by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bengaluru, as HAL has already received an order of 123 aircraft out of which 32 fighters have been supplied to IAF and two squadrons already operational with Indian Air Force (IAF) at Sulur, AF base.
Specifications
LCA Tejas is a 4.5 generation, all weather and multi-role fighter aircraft. The aircraft is designed to be a multi-role aircraft capable of taking up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack role at ease. It is also designed to undertake Ground Maritime Operations.
LCA Mk1A is the most advanced version of the LCA Tejas. It is equipped with AESA Radar, EW suite consisting of radar warning and self-protection jamming, Digital Map Generator (DMG), Smart Multi-function Displays (SMFD), Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT), Advanced Radio Altimeter and other features.
