As the indigenously designed and manufactured Tejas light combat aircraft(LCA)completes seven years of service in the Indian Air Force(IAF) on Saturday, IAF is expected to get deliveries new variant of the aircraft Tejas MK-1A from February next year. It will be capable of firing a plethora of weapons, including beyond visual range missiles.
Stating this on Friday, the defence ministry the aircraft and its future variants will form the mainstay of IAF. In February 2021, the ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. At present, more than 30 Tejas jets are in service.
Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. Egypt, Argentina, the US, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are among the countries showing keen interest in procuring Tejas aircraft.
The LCA, christened Tejas in 2003, is a multi- role platform that ranks amongst the best in its class. It has been designed to undertake air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles. The aircraft offers carefree handling and enhanced manoeuvrability. This capability is further enhanced with its multi-mode airborne radar, helmet mounted display, self-protection suite and laser designation pod.
The first IAF Squadron to induct the Tejas was No 45 Squadron, the ‘Flying Daggers’. Over the years, the squadron progressed from Vampires to Gnats and then onto the MiG-21 Bis, before being equipped with its current steed. Each of the aircraft flown by the Flying Daggers has been manufactured in India - either under license production or having been designed and developed in India. In May 2020, No 18 Squadron became the second IAF unit to operate the Tejas.