First indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at ceremony held at Bengaluru, Karanataka.
It was handed over after it was granted Initial Operational Clearance (IOC)-II, which signifies that aircraft is airworthy to fly in different conditions.
About Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
- Tejas is outcome of India’s LCA programme, which began in the 1983 to replace country’s aging MiG-21 fighters.
- It is a lightweight multi-role jet fighter indigenously-built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- It is a tailless and having compound delta wing design. It is powered by a single engine.
- It is mounted with inbuilt MultiMode Radar (MMR), Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) systems.
- As part of LCA programme, 20 aircraft will be built by 2017-2018, to make the first squadron of the aircraft.
- IOC-I was granted to the aircraft in January 2011 after it was built by HAL. While, IOC- II was granted in September 2014, after the aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight.
- It is yet to receive the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) and excepted to receive it by the year-end which includes testing mid-air refuelling and its long-range missiles capabilities.