LCA Tejas receives final operational clearance

Bengaluru, February 20

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas has been given a final operational clearance (FOC) certification. It means the plane in FOC configuration with its upgrades over the existing version can be produced. The first such jet will be delivered by September this year.

In January this year, the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification has given the green signal to start manufacturing the Tejas FOC version, today the certification was formally handed over at the Aero India. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is listed to make 123 Tejas; of these 20 are called the initial operational clearance (IOC) version and another 20 the FOC version. The IOC version is already being supplied to the IAF, while the FOC version production would commence after this certification.

The FoC version has 39 upgrades over the existing version (IOC). The remaining 83 are the Tejas Mark 1A, which will come with another four improvements. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshall BS Dhanoa said a request for proposal would be soon given to HAL for Mark 1A. — TNS