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.
Uttarakhand News: Conversion law becomes stricter in Uttarakhand, provision of 10 years punishment, 'love jihad' will be banned
In the cabinet meeting of the Uttarakhand government, a major decision has been taken to curb forced conversions. In the cabinet meeting, strict amendments have been made to the conversion law, under
PSEB 5th Class Result 2023: Punjab Board class fifth result released, know where and how to check
Punjab School Education Board announced PSEB 5th Class Result 2023: Punjab School Education Board has announced the PSEB 5th Class Result 2023 on April 6, 2023, at 3 pm. Students who have appeared in
Kangana Ranaut: Deepa Mehta got into trouble for taking a jibe at Kangana's views on the Israel-Gaza war, the actress got angry
Kangana Ranaut, popularly known as 'Panga Girl' in Bollywood, is trying to woo the audience by playing Tejas Gill in theatres. However, she has not forgotten her dashing style. From time to time, he
Why did R Ashwin silence the panelist as soon as MS Dhoni's name came up? He said- don't talk about him...
Chennai Super Kings are in poor form in IPL 2025. CSK has won only two out of 7 matches so far and is at the last position in the points table. The CSK team will have to do a miracle to move ahead.
Scindia's Mother Passes Away: Rajmata Madhavi of the Gwalior royal family passes away, CM and other leaders expressed grief
Madhavi Raje Scindia, queen mother of the Gwalior royal family and mother of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, died on Wednesday morning. She was 70 years old. Madhavi Raje was ill for a
Partly cloudy day ahead in Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) It was a sunny Saturday morning in the capital with the minimum temperature settling at 11 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average.The Met Office has forecast a
Final report against VMPL in coal scam soon
New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) The CBI on Monday told a special court hearing a coal block allocation case involving Kolkata-based Vikash Metal and Power Limited (VMPL) and others that it will file a
Delhi Election 2025 Voting: These leaders including President Murmu, LG Saxena, and Rahul cast their votes
Voting is being held at all polling stations for Delhi Vidhan Sabha Chunav 2025 from the scheduled time of 7 am on Wednesday. Voters are also very enthusiastic. In many places, voters lined up outside
From 'Reluctant Raghu' to 'Rate-cut-Raghu': Anand Mahindra
Chennai, Jan 15 (IANS) Automobile group Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) chairman Anand Mahindra Thursday termed RBI governor Raghuram Rajan as 'Rate-cut-Raghu', following the central bank's
Rajya Sabha Poll to Show if PDP, BJP Would ally in Kashmir
Jammu, Jan 13 (IANS) The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to end the suspense over whether or not the BJP and the PDP would ally to form a government in the
