The first production series fighter of LCA Tejas Mark-1A, a highly anticipated advanced variant of the LCA Mk-1 already inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF), completed its maiden flight on Thursday in Bengaluru.
Conducted at the HAL facility, the maiden flight, lasting 18 minutes, marked a significant milestone in Bharat’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
The Tejas Mk-1A comes equipped with a host of enhancements, including digital radar warning receivers, superior AESA radar, advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles, and external self-protection jammers pods. These upgrades aim to bolster the aircraft’s combat effectiveness and situational awareness on the battlefield.
With the successful completion of the maiden flight, HAL, the Defense PSU responsible for manufacturing the Tejas Mk-1A, is poised to begin delivery of 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft between March 2024 and February 2028. This is in line with the contractual obligations outlined in the Rs 46,898 crore contract signed in 2021 for the procurement of 83 improved Tejas Mark-1A jets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flight in a Tejas trainer aircraft in October 2023, followed by his public endorsement of the indigenous fighter, underscored the government’s confidence in Bharat’s indigenous defence capabilities.
Modi’s historic flight, making him the first Prime Minister to fly in a fighter jet, served as a symbolic gesture of support for the Tejas program.
The Indian Air Force views the Tejas as critical to addressing the depletion in the number of its fighter squadrons, currently down to just 31 compared to the minimum requirement of 42 to tackle potential threats from China and Pakistan.
The Tejas is poised to become the mainstay of the IAF, replacing foreign jets and bolstering Bharat’s defence capabilities.
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