Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the procurement of 83 indigenously manufactured advanced Mk1A version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ for the Indian Air Force.
The advanced LCA ‘Tejas’ is indigenously designed by Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with other local vendors.
Following the approval by the DAC, the next step for the order is to get approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The final inking of the order with HAL is expected to be completed within this fiscal.
Out of the 83 LCA ‘Tejas’, ten twin-seater aircraft will be used for training purposes of the Indian Air Force.
The single-engine Mk1A version of the LCA ‘Tejas’ is a four and a half-generation aircraft with provision to be upgraded later. The aircraft will be equipped with electronic warfare suites, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, onboard different types of bombs, missiles and weapons and mid-air refuelling facility.
LCA ‘Tejas’ will replace MiG-21 will is being gradually phased out of service by the Indian Air Force.
IAF which has been looking for options to fulfil the shortage of fighter squadrons has already placed the order for 40 aircraft in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration for LCA Tejas.
