In a significant achievement for the indigenous fighter aircraft programme, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on the western front along the Pakistan border given the tensions with China on the Ladakh front.

"The LCA Tejas was deployed by the Indian Air Force on the western front close to the Pakistan border to take care of any possible action by the adversary there," government sources told.

The first LCA Tejas squadron, 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) based out of Sulur under the Southern Air Command, was deployed in an operational role there, the sources said.

The indigenous Tejas aircraft had been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech where he had stated that the deal to buy the LCA Mark1A version was expected to be completed soon.

While the first squadron of the planes is of the Initial Operational Clearance version, the second 18 Squadron `Flying Bullets` is of the Final Operational Clearance version and was operationalized by the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria at the Sulur airbase on May 27.

The Indian Air Force and the Defence Ministry are expected to finalise the deal for the 83 Mark1A aircraft by the end of this year.

Given the Chinese aggression on the borders, the IAF had deployed its assets all along the borders with both China and Pakistan.The forward airbases of the force have been equipped to take care of situations along the western and northern fronts and have seen extensive flying operations in the recent past, including both daytime and night operations.&nbsp;

In a significant achievement for the indigenous fighter aircraft programme, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on the western front along the Pakistan border given the tensions with China on the Ladakh front.

In a significant achievement for the indigenous fighter aircraft programme, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on the western front along the Pakistan border given the tensions with China on the Ladakh front. "The LCA Tejas was deployed by the Indian Air Force on the western front close to the Pakistan border to take care of any possible action by the adversary there," government sources told. The first LCA Tejas squadron, 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) based out of Sulur under the Southern Air Command, was deployed in an operational role there, the sources said. The indigenous Tejas aircraft had been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech where he had stated that the deal to buy the LCA Mark1A version was expected to be completed soon. While the first squadron of the planes is of the Initial Operational Clearance version, the second 18 Squadron `Flying Bullets` is of the Final Operational Clearance version and was operationalized by the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria at the Sulur airbase on May 27. The Indian Air Force and the Defence Ministry are expected to finalise the deal for the 83 Mark1A aircraft by the end of this year. Given the Chinese aggression on the borders, the IAF had deployed its assets all along the borders with both China and Pakistan.The forward airbases of the force have been equipped to take care of situations along the western and northern fronts and have seen extensive flying operations in the recent past, including both daytime and night operations.

Amid border tensions with China, indigenous fighter LCA Tejas deployed on western front

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh becomes the first defence minister to fly in Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on Thursday.

Singh was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal N Tiwari.

The fighter jet took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bangalore.

The Defence Minister who donned a white helmet waved to onlookers after he took his seat in the back in the twin-seater version of the aircraft.

The defence minister was briefed by the pilot and other top Indian Air Force (IAF) officials.

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Earlier today, Rajnath Singh tweeted two pictures of him dressed in a green flight suit. "All Set For The Day!" he posted.

The Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas".

(With inputs from ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh becomes the first defence minister to fly in Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on Thursday. Singh was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal N Tiwari.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh becomes the first defence minister to fly in Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on Thursday. Singh was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal N Tiwari. The fighter jet took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bangalore. The Defence Minister who donned a white helmet waved to onlookers after he took his seat in the back in the twin-seater version of the aircraft. The defence minister was briefed by the pilot and other top Indian Air Force (IAF) officials. Earlier today, Rajnath Singh tweeted two pictures of him dressed in a green flight suit. "All Set For The Day!" he posted. The Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas". (With inputs from ANI)

Rajnath Singh becomes first defence minister to fly in Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will fly<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tejas-fuel-tank-falls-in-field-near-sulur-air-base-in-tamil-nadu-iaf-to-probe-232251"> Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas'</a>, an indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft in Bengaluru on Thursday.

He will fly the twin-seat version of the Tejas combat aircraft at Tamil Nadu's Sulur Air Force Station.

The Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas".

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will fly Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', an indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft in Bengaluru on Thursday. He will fly the twin-seat version of the Tejas combat aircraft at Tamil Nadu's Sulur Air Force Station.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will fly Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', an indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft in Bengaluru on Thursday. He will fly the twin-seat version of the Tejas combat aircraft at Tamil Nadu's Sulur Air Force Station. The Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas".

Rajnath Singh to fly Indian Air Force LCA Tejas in Bengaluru

Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has successfully fired Derby Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range Missile from the Goa Coast on Friday.&nbsp

The launch aims to expand the firing envelope as well as to demonstrate safe operation of the aircraft during missile plume ingestion into the aircraft engine under worst case scenarios.&nbsp

Defence Ministry officials said the test firing of the missile from a Tejas jet was carried out yesterday off the Goa coast and it met all operational requirements.

Earlier, Tejas was given clearance for deployment of armaments and other missiles.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) had ordered 40 Tejas Mark-1 version and a request for proposal (RFP) was issued to HAL by the IAF in December for procurement of another batch of 83 Tejas at a cost of around Rs 50,000 crore.

Officials said the successful launch of the BVR missile will expedite issuance of the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) to the aircraft developed by state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

"The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully fired Derby air-to-air BVR Range missile to expand the firing envelope as well as to demonstrate safe operation of the aircraft," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

It said the missile was launched from the LCA piloted by Wing Commander Siddharth Singh yesterday from the firing range off the Goa coast after the exhaustive study of the missile separation characteristics.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman complimented the DRDO and other agencies involved in making Tejas a world-class aircraft. 
DRDO Chairman S Christopher said with this firing, the Tejas has achieved another major milestone towards FOC certification. 
"Integration of Derby, a BVR class missile, is one of the major objectives of Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of LCA Tejas," said the ministry.

The aircraft was tracked by two other Tejas aircraft in close formation to capture the firing event in the specially instrumented high-speed cameras for detailed analysis of the test launch of the missile.

The entire planning, practice sorties and final firing were carried out by ADA and its National Flight Test Centre (NFTC).

"Based on the successful integration and demonstration, Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness (RCMA), a unit of DRDO has cleared the series production aircraft of Squadron 45, to be equipped with Derby operational capability," the Ministry said.

It said Tejas has successfully completed a series of captive flight trials to clear Derby for the full operational capability.

(With inputs from PTI)

Defence Ministry officials said the test firing of the missile from a Tejas jet was carried out yesterday off the Goa coast and it met all operational requirements.

Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has successfully fired Derby Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range Missile from the Goa Coast on Friday. The launch aims to expand the firing envelope as well as to demonstrate safe operation of the aircraft during missile plume ingestion into the aircraft engine under worst case scenarios. Defence Ministry officials said the test firing of the missile from a Tejas jet was carried out yesterday off the Goa coast and it met all operational requirements. Earlier, Tejas was given clearance for deployment of armaments and other missiles. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had ordered 40 Tejas Mark-1 version and a request for proposal (RFP) was issued to HAL by the IAF in December for procurement of another batch of 83 Tejas at a cost of around Rs 50,000 crore. Officials said the successful launch of the BVR missile will expedite issuance of the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) to the aircraft developed by state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). "The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully fired Derby air-to-air BVR Range missile to expand the firing envelope as well as to demonstrate safe operation of the aircraft," the Defence Ministry said in a statement. It said the missile was launched from the LCA piloted by Wing Commander Siddharth Singh yesterday from the firing range off the Goa coast after the exhaustive study of the missile separation characteristics. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman complimented the DRDO and other agencies involved in making Tejas a world-class aircraft. DRDO Chairman S Christopher said with this firing, the Tejas has achieved another major milestone towards FOC certification. "Integration of Derby, a BVR class missile, is one of the major objectives of Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of LCA Tejas," said the ministry. The aircraft was tracked by two other Tejas aircraft in close formation to capture the firing event in the specially instrumented high-speed cameras for detailed analysis of the test launch of the missile. The entire planning, practice sorties and final firing were carried out by ADA and its National Flight Test Centre (NFTC). "Based on the successful integration and demonstration, Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness (RCMA), a unit of DRDO has cleared the series production aircraft of Squadron 45, to be equipped with Derby operational capability," the Ministry said. It said Tejas has successfully completed a series of captive flight trials to clear Derby for the full operational capability. (With inputs from PTI)

Tejas carries out successful test firing of 'beyond visual range' missile

India&#39;s first locally-built fourth generation combat aircraft officially took to the skies today, 33 years after it was cleared for development, marking a long-held goal of cutting expensive imports to build a domestic defence-industrial base. 
 
India&#39;s fighter aircraft fleet, made up of a mix of Russian, British and French planes, is down to 33 squadrons as against the air force&#39;s requirement of 45.&nbsp; 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s government has nudged the military to accept the first version of the &quot;Tejas&quot; Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to make up for the shortfall while a more powerful subsequent model is under development. 
 
Indian Air Force officers broke coconuts and priests held multi-faith ceremonies to mark the induction of two planes in the Southern Indian city of Bengaluru. Later, the aircraft took off in the colours of the air force as fire tenders sprayed water on the tarmac in a military ritual. 
 
&quot;Moment of national pride. Indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet inducted into Air Force. Tejas will take our air strength to new heights,&quot; defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who led the drive, said in a Twitter post. 
 
Early this month China said it is still testing its first stealth fighter, the J-20, but it would enter service soon. 
 
The single-seat Indian fighter plane is considered superior to counterparts like the JF-17 aircraft jointly built by China and Pakistan. Tejas has had no accident in 3,000 hours of flying and its use of composites helps lower its radar signature, making it harder to detect early, air force officials said. 
 
&quot;The LCA is as good as any in the world in its class,&quot; said retired Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur, now a fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi. 
 
But the challenge for state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is making the aircraft, will be to stick to the production schedule as the air force seeks to arrest the decline in the number of planes it can deploy, he said. 
 
HAL only has the capacity to produce four Tejas planes a year, a government-appointed audit committee said in a report last year. The plan is to increase production capacity to eight, a defence ministry official said today. 
 
India is separately negotiating for the purchase of 36 top-end Rafale fighter planes from France&#39;s Dassault Aviation, a scaled-back deal that has been delayed since 2012. 
 
(Reuters)

The aircraft took to the skies today, 33 years after it was cleared for development

India's first locally-built fourth generation combat aircraft officially took to the skies today, 33 years after it was cleared for development, marking a long-held goal of cutting expensive imports to build a domestic defence-industrial base. India's fighter aircraft fleet, made up of a mix of Russian, British and French planes, is down to 33 squadrons as against the air force's requirement of 45. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has nudged the military to accept the first version of the "Tejas" Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to make up for the shortfall while a more powerful subsequent model is under development. Indian Air Force officers broke coconuts and priests held multi-faith ceremonies to mark the induction of two planes in the Southern Indian city of Bengaluru. Later, the aircraft took off in the colours of the air force as fire tenders sprayed water on the tarmac in a military ritual. "Moment of national pride. Indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet inducted into Air Force. Tejas will take our air strength to new heights," defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who led the drive, said in a Twitter post. Early this month China said it is still testing its first stealth fighter, the J-20, but it would enter service soon. The single-seat Indian fighter plane is considered superior to counterparts like the JF-17 aircraft jointly built by China and Pakistan. Tejas has had no accident in 3,000 hours of flying and its use of composites helps lower its radar signature, making it harder to detect early, air force officials said. "The LCA is as good as any in the world in its class," said retired Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur, now a fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi. But the challenge for state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is making the aircraft, will be to stick to the production schedule as the air force seeks to arrest the decline in the number of planes it can deploy, he said. HAL only has the capacity to produce four Tejas planes a year, a government-appointed audit committee said in a report last year. The plan is to increase production capacity to eight, a defence ministry official said today. India is separately negotiating for the purchase of 36 top-end Rafale fighter planes from France's Dassault Aviation, a scaled-back deal that has been delayed since 2012. (Reuters)

India's first locally-built fourth generation combat plane Tejas enters service