Bengaluru: Thirty-two years after the project was initiated, the first indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was on Saturday handed over by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to the Indian Air Force.
The handover signals the start of the process of induction of the fighters, a 4.5th generation aircraft, being built at home which has cost the exchequer nearly Rs 8,000 crore.
The entire project by the DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), including the final induction in the Air Force and Navy, is estimated to cost over Rs 30,000 crore. Prime Minister Aal Bihari Vajpayee had christened the Light Combat Aircraft as ‘Tejas’ (Radiance) in 2003.
The US-made GE engine powered Tejas, which will replace the ageing MiG21s, is significant for its lighter weight and greater agility and manoeuvrability.
The aircraft that has been handed over has got Initial Operational Clearance-II, which signifies that Tejas is airworthy in different conditions, sources said.
The Final Operational Clearance (FOC) is expected by the year-end. This version of the aircraft lacks the latest electronic warfare suite, which was integrated into one of the LCAs two weeks ago, mid-air refuelling and long-range missiles capabilities, among other things that the FOC-configuration aircraft will have. (PTI)
