IAF gets first LCA Tejas twin seater aircraft from HAL in boost for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a boost for “Make in India”, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Wednesday handed over the first LCA Tejas twin seater aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
HAL has an order of 18 twin seaters from IAF and is planning to deliver eight of them during 2023-24. The remaining 10 would be delivered progressively by 2026-27.
“Today is a momentous day and a matter of pride for me to accept the first two-seater LCA aircraft. This day will go down in history as a really remarkable one that exemplifies the prowess of the Indian domestic aviation industry,” IAF chief VR Chaudhari said at the handover ceremony in Bengaluru.

The development places India among the select group of elite nations that have successfully developed and deployed such capabilities within their armed forces, HAL said.
It is also another feather in the cap for the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative of the Centre.
Here’s all you need to know about LCA Tejas:

The LCA Tejas twin seater is a light weight, all weather multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft.
The twin seater variant of Tejas has all the capabilities to support the training requirements of the IAF.
It can augment itself to the role of fighter as well in case of necessity.
According to HAL, the aircraft is an amalgamation of contemporary concepts and technologies, such as relaxed static-stability, quadraplex fly-by-wire flight control, carefree maneuvering, advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems and advanced composite materials for the airframe.
The aircraft is designed to be a multi-role aircraft capable of taking up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack role at ease.
It is also designed to undertake ground maritime operations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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