33 years on, homemade Tejas finally enters Indian Air Force fleet
It's a big day for the Indian Air Force as two home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), forming its first squadron for the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-developed Tejas fighter, henceforth known as the "Flying Daggers", were inducted into its fleet.
Conceived more than three decades ago, the two Tejas fighter planes finally get official flight under IAF banner in what is being seen as a significant Make in India success story.
The much celebrated induction ceremony also had a multi-religious prayer session with officials and crew members of the multi-role, supersonic, single-seat, single-engine aircraft, designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with HAL, breaking coconuts for "good luck".
Big hopes are pinned on the Tejas LCA which will debut in the Indian Air Force's combat plan next year, in addition to be stationed in forward bases as well. Eventually, the IAF is looking at six aircraft in 2016-17 and eight more in 2017-18.
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| HAL Tejas, India-made light combat aircraft, takes flight on July 1 as part of IAF. |
According to Livefistdefence.com, "it isn’t the Mk.1 type of the Tejas that has the IAF all lit up, but a configuration it agreed on last year designated the Mk.1A that’ll form the true Tejas backbone in service — 80 aircraft, with the possibility of 40 more have been ordered".
The upgraded version of Tejas will feature mid-air refuelling capacity, active electrically scanned array radar, unified electronic warfare suite, and advanced beyond the vision range missiles, and will cost roughly 300 crore.The planes will be initially stationed in the IAF Sulur base in Coimbatore, allowing air force pilots to fly the single-engine fighter before it is deployed on operational roles.
Since the first flight of the LCA's technology demonstrator in January 2001, Tejas has covered nearly 3,200 sorties in India, with flight performances in the Himalayas, and has emerged unscathed, thus boosting India's Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO's) confidence significantly.
The commercial manufacture will of course be carried out by the government-owned defence sector giant HAL.
July 1 marked the three-decade-long year wait to induct Tejas in IAF. The country proudly watched as the lightweight aircraft took its first flight.
#WATCH: The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas take first flight in Bengaluru after being inducted into IAFhttps://t.co/zWuF85y2AU
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016
Congratulatory tweets poured in after Tejas' first flight:
Induction of indigenously made Tejas fighter jet into the Air Force fills our hearts with unparalleled pride & happiness. #TransformingIndia
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 1, 2016
Congratulations to HAL & ADA for successful induction of the indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet. pic.twitter.com/U3Ql4IfbYv
— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) July 1, 2016
Proud & Historic Moment as Flying daggers 45 take India's home grown LCA #Tejas to the skies pic.twitter.com/vjKwnaUS0s
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) July 1, 2016
Induction ceremony of Tejas aircraft into IAF; personnel break coconuts as a traditional ritual to bring good luck. pic.twitter.com/FacZDTpylj
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016
The light combat Aircraft Tejas inducted into the Indian Air Force. pic.twitter.com/N1W6qlO8cg
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016
Water cannon salute for the IAF's first LCA Tejas fighters. #GoTejas pic.twitter.com/fScDVLOYTW
— Livefist (@livefist) July 1, 2016
The Age Of The Tejas Begins Today. https://t.co/Yj9pzIYEc3 #GoTejas pic.twitter.com/ySPSsRdNGT
— Livefist (@livefist) June 30, 2016
Multi-religious prayer ceremonies being held at the induction ceremony of Tejas aircraft into IAF. pic.twitter.com/RZik7tAUNk
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016
Air force officers break coconuts prior to induction of Tejas aircraft into IAF in a multi religious prayer ceremony pic.twitter.com/Gz4PxfNAFB
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016
The light combat Aircraft Tejas inducted into the Indian Air Force. pic.twitter.com/N1W6qlO8cg
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016
The First Flight: Light Combat Aircraft Tejas soars high after being inducted into Indian Air Force, in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/mrZqLSOMWy
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016
#WATCH: The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas take first flight in Bengaluru after being inducted into IAFhttps://t.co/zWuF85y2AU
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2016