BENGALURU: The first manufacturing collection fighter of LCA Tejas Mark-1A, a sophisticated variant of the LCA Mk-1 that has already been inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF), Thursday accomplished its maiden flight in Bengaluru.
Defence PSU HAL, which is manufacturing the Tejas Mk-1A or LCA Mk1A or developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO lab Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), had been conducting numerous taxi trials over the previous a number of days.
Thursday’s maiden flight lasted 18 minutes and was piloted by Group Capt (retd) KK Venugopal, HAL chief take a look at pilot (mounted wing).

“The first aircraft LA5033 of the Tejas Mk1A aircraft series took to the skies from HAL facility in Bengaluru today (Thursday). It was a successful sortie with a flying time of 18 minutes,” HAL stated Thursday.
The Mk-1A will include digital radar warning receivers, a superior AESA (energetic electronically scanned array) radar, superior beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and exterior self-protection jammer pods, amongst different enhancements.
HAL, which has delivered 32 single-seat LCA fighters and two of the eight twin-seat trainers of the 40 Tejas Mk1 order value Rs 8,802 crore, will now have to start supply of 83 Tejas Mk-1A within the March 2024-Feb 2028 timeframe. This is as stipulated by the Rs 46,898 crore contract for 83 improved Tejas Mark-1A jets of 2021.
On Nov 23, 2023, PM Narendra Modi flew in a coach that was delivered in Oct 2023, Putting his private stamp of approval on the indigenous Tejas fighter, which is able to grow to be the mainstay of the IAF within the years forward as an alternative of overseas jets.
The IAF already has two Tejas squadrons, the ‘Flying Daggers’ and ‘Flying Bullets’, one among which is now deployed within the southwestern sector dealing with Pakistan.
“Successfully completed a sortie on Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country’s indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential,” Modi had stated, after turning into the primary PM to fly in a fighter jet.
In line with making Tejas the mainstay of IAF, the defence acquisition council (DAC) has granted the acceptance of necessity (AON) for 97 extra Tejas Mk-1A plane and an order to acquire these is anticipated after the ultimate clearance from the cupboard committee on safety (CCS) is obtained.
Tejas is essential for IAF to stem the depletion within the variety of its fighter squadrons, which is down to only 31 when a minimum of 42 are required to deal with China and Pakistan.
From little or no confidence from each the IAF and the Centre within the Tejas in its preliminary years of flying, the fighter has grown to grow to be a platform that’s being showcased as a flagbearer by India in a number of defence and aero exhibits internationally.
It is noteworthy that the IAF reported its first lack of a Tejas Mk 1 fighter plane to an air crash on March 12.