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'It's a world class aircraft,' says Tejas pilot

LCA Tejas Pilot Madhav Rangachari

Group Captain Madhav Rangachari had his name scribbled in history when he took the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft Tejas (LA - 5001) into the cloudy Bengaluru skies.

 

"It is a world-class aircraft and is easily the best I have flown," said Rangachari, who has over 3000 hours of flying experience on Mirage-2000 and MiG 21.


LCA Tejas Pilot Madhav Rangachari


“It is comparable and on par with any fourth generation fighter aircraft you have in the world today,” he added.

 

Captain Rangachari -- who is now officially also the first commanding officer of the newly formed LCA Tejas squadron -- took the single-engine multi-role fighter jet, claimed to be the world's smallest and lightest supersonic fighter, to an altitude of 1,500 feet and performed a few aerobatic manoeuvres as well. 

 

He said that he had few more tricks he would have liked to perform but the cloudy weather did play spoil sport. The 40-year-old pilot, who has closely been associated with the LCA project has considerable hours of flying the LCA prototypes.

 

He but agreed that there was definitely scope for improvement and was waiting for the incorporation of new generation Active Electronically Scanned Array on LCA Tejas, which would considerably improve its stealth prowess.

 

After a delay of over 30 years, the Indian Air Force on Friday inducted a squadron of the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

 

The aircraft is the lightest multi-role supersonic aircraft of its class, equipped to handle surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles.

 

The IAF has said that the aircraft will feature quite prominently in the force’s combat plan in 2017 and it might be deployed in forward bases as well. There are also plans to acquire over 80 aircraft with better specifications, known as Tejas 1A in the future.

LCA Tejas Pilot Madhav Rangachari


Lauding induction of HAL’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) into IAF, PM Narendra Modi said that this is a matter of unparalleled pride and happiness. “Induction of indigenously made Tejas fighter jet into the Air Force fills our hearts with unparalleled pride & happiness,” PM Modi tweeted.

 

“I laud HAL & ADA on the induction of Tejas fighter jet. This illustrates our skills & strengths to enhance indigenous defence manufacturing,” the Prime Minister said.

 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also tweeted his congratulations on the historic milestone. “Moment of National pride. Indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet inducted into Air Force. Tejas will take our air strength to new heights,” he said.

 

“Congratulations to HAL & ADA for successful induction of the indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet,” Parrikar tweeted.

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