The limited series production of the aircraft was granted initial operational clearance (IOC) by defence minister AK Antony, with part compliance of parameters vis-a-vis air staff requirements of the IAF.
Indian Air Force on Monday began the process to induct indigenously built light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
The limited series production of the aircraft was granted initial operational clearance (IOC) by defence minister AK Antony, with part compliance of parameters vis-a-vis air staff requirements of the IAF.
IOC comes after 27 years of conceptualising the programme. The historic flights were flown by Group Captains Thomas and Tyagi.
IAF would get two more LCAs by June 2011 and two by the year end.
With Rs12,000 crore spent on the development of Tejas, it still has only 60% indigenous content, said DRDO chief Dr VK Saraswat. He said by the time the aircraft gets its Final Operational Clearance (FOC), expected in December 2012, it would be over 75 % indigenised.
IOC would allow the IAF to have the aircraft inducted in its squadrons and its personnel fly the aircraft for training purposes. An IOC declared fighter is ready to perform all functions except go into battle. Only after the FOC does an aircraft become battle-worthy, as FOC certifies its weapons-delivery.
Air Chief Marshal PV Naik termed it a low-end aircraft, short of the Swedish Gripen NG aircraft, in the single-engine category, and said as it develops it would reach the fourth generation status and would fill in the numbers required, as a medium and low-end category aircraft.
Antony who handed over the IOC certification to the Air Chief, said, “after crossing a number of challenges and accomplishing a significant series of milestones of envelop expansion, sensor integration and weapon delivery in over 1,500 sorties, the country is poised for a major turning point with the declaration of the IOC.”
According to former air chief FH Major it is a milestone for the IAF to achieve the IOC for Tejas. The first squadron of the LCA comprising 20 aircraft would be delivered by 2015. It would be powered by the American engine GE404IN20, as would be the next 20 aircraft. However, the next batch will be powered by GE-414.
The plan is to build 200 LCAs, 140 for the IAF and the remaining for the navy. Each fighter aircraft costs Rs200 crore, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited chairman Ashok Nayak said.
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