Indian Air Force (IAF) is gearing up to welcome its first Tejas Mk-1A aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in July 2024, as per officials familiar with the matter.
This comes after the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A completed its inaugural flight from a HAL facility in Bengaluru on March 28.
The procurement of 83 Mk-1A fighters by IAF, valued at ₹48,000 crore, was initiated in February 2021. However, the delivery timeline was postponed from March 31, 2024, due to pending certifications.
In a bid to bolster its aerial capabilities amidst a shortage of fighter squadrons, the defense ministry issued a tender to HAL in April for the acquisition of an additional 97 LCA Mk-1A aircraft, estimated to cost around ₹67,000 crore.
HAL is on track to deliver 16 fighters to IAF during the fiscal year 2024-25. To accommodate the growing demand for fighter jets, a new production line has been established in Nashik specifically for LCA Mk-1A. This move is expected to increase production capacity from 16 to 24 jets annually, with the delivery of the 87 ordered aircraft projected to be completed by 2028.
The Tejas Mk-1A represents an advanced iteration of the LCA Mk-1, which has already been inducted into the IAF. It is poised to become a cornerstone of IAF’s combat power in the foreseeable future.
IAF, ranked as the world’s fourth-largest air force, is anticipated to operate approximately 350 LCAs, including Mk-1, Mk-1A, and Mk-2 versions. With a significant portion already ordered and some already inducted, the rest form an integral part of the air force’s modernization agenda, with contracts expected to be finalized in the coming years.
In October 2023, HAL handed over the first trainer version of LCA Mk-1 to IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in Bengaluru.
This twin-seater variant is designed to serve as both a training aircraft and a fighter if the need arises. It was part of the earlier order for 40 Mk-1 jets, encompassing the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations.
Comments