In a big boost to Make in India programme, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a sortie of indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) on Thursday. During the 30-minute sortie, the Defence Minister controlled the aircraft for some time. The aircraft is designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft has two different variants for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the India Navy. Tejas Expands Firing Envelope, Indian Air-Force's Light Combat Aircraft Successfully Fires Derby Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range Missile.

A total of 16 LCA Tejas with Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) have already been inducted into the IAF. These fighter planes are based in Sulur in Tamil Nadu under 45 Squadron, Flying Daggers which was formed in 2016. The IAF will get a total of 40 LCA Tejas Mark 1 aircraft including eight trainer jets. The aircraft received the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) during the Aero India Show 2019 which was conducted in Bengaluru in February. IAF Displays Flying Power of LCA Tejas During LIMA 2019 in Malaysia, Watch Video,

Here are some of the Features of LCA Tejas:

  • It is a single-engine indigenously-built aircraft.

  • LCA Tejas is designed and developed by the ADA under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the HAL.

  • The programme to replace Russian Mig-21 with LCA began in 1980.

  • Tejas has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration with a single dorsal fin.

  • Its wing root leading edge has a sweep of 50 degrees, the outer wing leading edge has a sweep of 62.5 degrees, and trailing edge has a forward sweep of four degrees.

  • The aircraft is loaded with advanced technologies including relaxed static stability, fly-by-wire flight control system, multi-mode radar and integrated digital avionics system.

The IAF will also procure 83, LCA Tejas Mark 1A, an advanced version of Tejas. According to media reports, LCA Tejas Mark II will be unveiled on the 75th anniversary of the Independence Day in 2022. LCA Tejas also participated in the mega-war exercise of the IAF which was held last year. Mid-Air refuelling of "wet contact" trial for LCA Tejas MK-1 was successfully conducted in September last year. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa Slams HAL For Delay in Production of Tejas Aircraft, Says 'Only10 Out of 20 Jets Delivered Till Now'.

Video of Arrested Landing Make by Indian Navy's LCA Tejas:

Earlier this month, ADA successfully executed the first-ever "arrested landing" of the naval version of LCA Tejas at a shore-based facility, INS Hansa in Goa. Commodore J A Maolankar (Chief Test Pilot), Captain Shivnath Dahiya (LSO) and Commander J D Raturi (Test Director) were part of the team who carried out the landing. The key feature of the LCA is to halt at a very short distance.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2019 01:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).