Bengaluru, Jan 17 (IANS) Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Saturday handed over the first indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha here.
Marking the formal handing over of the multi-role fighter built by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) under the limited series production of 20 aircraft (Mark-1 version), the minister presented technical documents to Raha in the presence of HAL chairman R.K. Tyagi.
The media was, however, not allowed to cover the event, which took place during Parrikar's maiden official visit here after he took over as defence minister Nov 10 last year.
Calling upon HAL and the Defence Research and Development Oraganisation (DRDO), whose aeronautics agencies took over three decades in developing the LCA, to think out of the box to meet the timeline challenges for delivering the aircraft to IAF, Parrikar told officials to give more thrust on research and technology.
"Although one does not achieve everything overnight, we can achieve the results better by modifying our work culture and adopting latest technology and tools," Parrikar said.
Noting that LCA was the need of the hour, given the operational requirements of the IAF, Raha said the fourth-generation fighter would be inducted into the fleet along with other aircraft to form the first Tejas squadron.
Admitting that Tejas was only 60 percent indigenous till date, Tyagi said the company would roll out six aircraft in the ensuing fiscal (2015-16).
As a single-engine multi-role supersonic fighter, Tejas is set to replace the IAF's ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet when inducted in six squadrons after defence regulator -- Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (Cemilac) certifies it for Final Operational Clearance (FOC) later this year.
The homegrown fighter received the initial operational clearance (IOC-2) in December 2013 for evaluation by IAF ace pilots on various parameters.
Weighing 8.5 tonnes, Tejas can carry three tonnes of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, laser guided bombs, guns, conventional/retarded bombs and beyond visual range missiles.
Tejas is also fitted with digital fly-by-wire system, flight control systems and open architecture computer.
Each squadron will have 20 fighters and will be based at the Sulur Air Force base near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
In the design and development stage, HAL produced 15 LCA aircraft -- seven in the limited series production, two technology demonstrators, three fighter prototype, two trainer prototype and one naval prototype.
Earlier, Parrikar was treated to a flying display of Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) Hawk, being built by HAL under licensed production from British aerospace major BAE Systems Plc.
The IAF signed contract in 2006 for delivery of 20 Tejas (Mark 1) to form its squadron in the IOC configuration and the build standard documents for the fleet were finalised in September 2013.
IPL 2025: RCB announced the captain for IPL 2025; Not Kohli, this Indian batsman was given the command
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has announced the new captain for the upcoming IPL season. RCB said on Thursday that Rajat Patidar will be the new captain of the team and the team will look for its
Amazon Great Indian sale: huge discounts on these smartphones priced below 10,000, know offers
Before Diwali, e-commerce company Amazon annual sale has started. There are discounts and attractive offers on almost every product you need in the sale. If you want to buy a new smartphone during
Weather Update: Severe heatwave condition in Delhi- UP- MP, heavy rain alert in these states, know-how will be the weather in your area today
Severe heat wave conditions are prevailing in various states of North and Central India. The temperature has reached above 45 degrees Celsius in many states. The temperature is reaching 44-45 degrees
IND vs NZ Final: The goal of invincible India is to destroy the challenge of the Kiwis, their record in knockouts is not good
In the final of the Champions Trophy to be held on Sunday, the Indian team will enter the final with a psychological advantage against New Zealand. The reason for this is India's victory over New
Arvind Kejriwal said- all will be treated in Delhi hospital, should have 1.5 lakh beds by 31 July
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has a press conference today on the ever-increasing cases of corona in the country's capital Delhi. CM Kejriwal reiterated the order of Lieutenant Governor
Reasons for India's defeat: Shreyas's catch drop was heavy, Dussen scored 75 runs; Wicket was not dropped after the 9th over, and 3 bowlers conceded 40+ runs
On Thursday, Team India missed out on making a record of winning 13 consecutive matches in T20 Internationals. South Africa beat India by 7 wickets in the first match of the five-match series. Batting
Terrorist conspiracy of ISI in India: Alert of Intelligence – ISI activated sleeper cell to blow up railway track; target Punjab
Intelligence agencies have issued an alert warning that Pakistan has hatched a big conspiracy to harm India. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) has planned to blow up railway tracks
Vaccination: India has to be saved from Corona, so from August onwards, 90 lakh people will have to apply the vaccine
The outbreak of the second wave of the Coronavirus continues in the country. Efforts are being made to speed up the Covid vaccination campaign to put a brake on the pace of corona infection, but the
PM Modi Visit Maharashtra: PM Modi's visit to Maharashtra today, will inaugurate Sant Tukaram Shila Temple in Dehu, Pune, will also visit Mumbai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a one-day visit to Maharashtra on June 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a temple dedicated to 17th-century saint Tukaram Maharaj at Dehu near Pune
The action of the crime branch intensified, Maulana Saad of Tabligi Jamaat is hiding here!
New Delhi: Police has started a crackdown to arrest Maulana Saad, the head of Tabligi Jamaat. It is being told that the police is not in the mood to give any concession and wants to arrest him soon.
