Finally, Tejas flies into IAF fleet

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1

The country's first indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Tejas, was today inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF), making it an important day in the history of India's defence manufacturing efforts.

Group Captain Madhav Rangachari will command 'Flying Daggers' — the first squadron of Tejas. He flew the inaugural flight of the plane in Bengaluru today.

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Only two planes have been inducted so far and the entire squadron of 18 planes will be built over the next two years. Six more planes will join in by December-end. The euphoria of history apart, the real test of maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Defence, starts now. The HAL has been asked to deliver two successive improved versions of Tejas with the second version called "Tejas Mark 1-A" to start production in 2019.

These will include new generation active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar which simultaneously tracks and aims at targets in the air and ground, an advanced electronic warfare suite, addition of latest beyond visual range (BVR) of missiles, mid-air refuelling facility and greater war fighting abilities. In all, 43 improvements will be made in the existing plane.

"These additions will make the plane truly world class. Today is a historic day and signals ours growth," said Air Marshal Kapil Kak (retd).

In all, 120-125 planes are to be produced and with HAL's existing capacity of making eight planes annually. This may take up to 15-17 years. The HAL has been asked to produce 16 jets annually and a Rs 1,252-crore modernisation plan has been approved to ramp up capacities.

Tejas will fill in the void created by MiG-21s and MiG-27s that will be phased out by 2022. The IAF needs 400 jets over the next 10 years. The gap is slated to be filled by 36 Rafale jets, 80-100 fifth generation fighter aircraft to be co-produced with Russia and another 80-100 Rafale-type medium combat jets. 

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Of national pride and happiness!

Induction of indigenously made Tejas fighter jet into the Air Force fills our hearts with unparalleled pride and happiness…I laud HAL and ADA on the induction of Tejas fighter jet. This illustrates our skills and strengths to enhance indigenous defence manufacturing. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Congratulations to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Aeronautical Development Agency for successful induction of the indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet…Moment of National pride…Tejas will take our air strength to new heights. Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister

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33 years in making

Rs 10,397.11 cr Spent so far

1983 Conception year

Makers Hindustan Aeronautics Limited & Aeronautical Development Agency

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Made up of

42% carbon fibre composites

43% aluminium alloy

15% titanium alloy

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Two delivered

2 Aircraft in new ‘Flying Daggers’ squadron

18 Planes to be ready by 2018

MiG-21 To be replaced by Tejas

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Supersonic LCA

1,300 km/hr (1.6 Mach) Speed

4 tonnes Payload capacity

2,000 hours Test flying

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‘I felt on top of the world’

Flying the indigenous Tejas LCA after its induction into the IAF was like being on top of the world, said Group Captain Madhav Rangachari on Friday. “I felt like being on top of the world when flying the Tejas fighter. 

It’s an honour and a privilege to pilot the inaugural flight of the LCA soon after its induction," Rangachari told reporters after a 10-minute solo sortie under a cloudy sky and windy conditions. The 40-year-old test pilot is the commanding officer of the IAF’s 45 squadron nicknamed “Flying Daggers”. With 3,000 flying hours’ experience, Rangachari was part of the Mirage 2000 squadron before flying the multirole Tejas since a year. 

“I could do only horizontal profile and not vertical due to the cloudy sky. It's an excellent aircraft and generation ahead of other fighters in the world,” Rangachari said. — IANS