New Delhi, July 1: After decades of hard work and learning, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Project also known as HAL Tejas, has been inducted into the Indian Air Force.
Two of the single-engine multi-role fighter jets, the world’s smallest and lightest supersonic fighter, have been handed over to the Air Force. They would be stationed in Bengaluru, as part of the first Tejas Squadron, ‘Flying Daggers’. Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commander-in Chief of the Air Force Southern Command and Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Baduria were also present.
Till now with SP-1 and SP-2 version of Tejas, the Flying Daggers will reach its full strength by 2018-2020. Another six Tejas Fighter would be inducted by the end of the current financial year, sources informed. With 7 officers, 42 air warriors and 20 non-commissioned officers, Group Commander M Rangachari shall be appointed as the first Commanding Officer of the Flying Daggers Squadron.
According to sources, Indian Air Force would introduce 80 Tejas 1A aircraft with better specifications. In the upgraded version, it would come with Active Electrically Scanned Radar, Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, Mid-Air refueling capacity and advanced Beyond Visual Range systems. The project would cost between Rs 275 crores and Rs 300 crores.
Conceptualized in the 1970s to build an indigenous aircraft, the work for this started in the 1980s. In January 2011, the first flight was taken place.
