In Pics: IAF makes history, inducts LCA Tejas via two-plane squadron

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday scripted history as it achieved an Indian military aviation milestone via the induction of the first-ever squadron of the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. It should be noted it is also the first time that a squadron was formed using only two jets.

 

 

In a low-key event, the state-run HAL handed over the first two Tejas jets to the IAF for the formation of the first Tejas squadron, named 'Flying Daggers', at a ceremony preceded by all-faith prayers at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment. 
    

Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Air Force's Southern Command, too agreed that it was the first time a squadron was formed with two jets as usually the IAF waits for having a fleet of at least eight planes.

 

 

However, with the indigenously built, single-engine multirole fighter jet LCA Tejas pegged to be the world's smallest and lightest supersonic fighter, there has been much interest from the government's side on its early induction.

 

"Since it is a home product, we wanted to start the induction at the earliest. Why prolong it?," said Air Marshal Walia.

 

Two initial operational clearances (IOC) been performed on the Tejas, however, till now the fighter jet has not been tested with a full-load fitted with all the weapons. "Now that we officially have the aircraft with us, we will now start testing it with payloads and once it reaches the Final Operational Clearance (FOC), it will be battle ready," added Air Marshal Walia.

 

 

IAF, which plans to induct six aircraft this financial year and about eight in the next, has said the Tejas will feature in its combat plan next year and would be deployed in forward bases also. LCA will eventually replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21 planes.
 

The commissioning of the India-made fighter planes comes around 33 years after LCA went into development.The aircraft was named "Tejas" (meaning radiance in Sanskrit) by Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister.
    

The squadron will be based in Bengaluru for the first two years before it is moved to Sulur in Tamil Nadu.

 

 

On Friday a Tejas aircraft flown by Commanding Officer Group Captain Madhav Rangachari performed a sortie during the induction ceremony, attended by Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in Chief, Southern Air Command and senior HAL executives.

 

 

All squadrons of Tejas will eventually be made up of 20 planes, including four in reserve. As per the plan, 20 would be inducted under the "Initial Operational Clearance" and another 20 later, with Beyond Visual Range Missile (BVR) and certain other features. IAF plans to induct over 80 aircraft with better specifications known as Tejas 1A.
    

The upgraded version of Tejas, with Active Electrically Scanned Array Radar, Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, mid-air refuelling capacity and advanced BVRs, will cost between ₹275 crore and ₹300 crore.
    

The idea to have an indigenous fighter aircraft was conceptualised in the 1970s, but actual work started on the aircraft project only in the 1980s. The first flight took place in January 2001 after the project often ran into rough weather and came under criticism over delays.