Press Trust Of India
Bangalore, Jan 17: After a 32-year wait, the first indigenously-built Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was 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 `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 `30,000 crore.
The LCA, 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.
The IOC-I was granted to the aircraft, being built by HAL, in January 2011.
‘‘Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar handed over the first series production Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas made by HAL to the Indian Air Force. The Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Air Staff, received the aircraft documents from the Minister,’’ a statement by HAL said. ‘‘It is a big big day for the country,’’ a senior DRDOofficial said. Incidentally, DRDO chief Avinash Chander, whose contract was terminated by the Minister recently with effect from January 31, was not present. nContinued on P-4
