Another Combat aircraft, apart from ‘RAFALE’, made it to the news. Its TEJAS, a Light Combat Aircraft this time.
Indian Army Chief, Bipin Rawat, on Thursday, took a ‘flight’ in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)Tejas and termed it as an experience of lifetime.
He further said that the ‘avionics’ are very good and its ‘targeting’ is also very good. He also said that if the aircraft will increase the air power of India if it gets added to the inventory.
Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat: Flight in LCA Tejas was an experience of a lifetime. From what I could witness, avionics are very good, it's targeting is very good. It's a wonderful aircraft if it gets added to inventory it will increase our air power. pic.twitter.com/WwUcFC6ekT
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2019
On Wednesday , the Light Combat Aircraft was given a ‘green signal’ i.e. the Final Operational Clearance by the secretary defence R&D and chairman of DRDO, G.Sateesh Reddy.
#WATCH Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat after taking a sortie in Light Combat Aircraft – Tejas in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/OOqlAARRWm
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2019
The jet was showcased in the recent Aero India show, held in Bengaluru.
Agencies included in the design, development and production of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft are ADA(Aeronautical Defence Agency),DRDO(Defence Research and Development Organisation) and HAL(Hindustan Aeronautical Limited).
The Final Operational Clearance includes addition of key capabilities to the Initial Operational Clearance(IOC), which in main are beyond Visual Range Missile Capabilities, Air-to-Air Refuelling, Air-to-Ground FOC earmarked weapons and general flight envelope expansion.
When asked about if the Tejas is combat ready, IAF Chief Air Marshal BS Dhanoa said, “Didn’t you see them perform at Vayu Shakti? You saw how much the aircraft could fly and the number of sorties it could generate during Gagan Shakti. During Vayu Shakti (this year), we showed you how accurately this aircraft could dispense weapons on the target. That’s the proof.”
The regulator gave IOC to the combat aircraft in 2013 and inducted it into the IAF 45 Squadron in July 2016.
The 45th squadron has flown over 500 sorties during the trials, without any known problem.