Indian Air Force To Induct First Squadron Of Tejas
BENGALURU: The Indian Air Force on Friday inducted two home-grown light combat aircraft, forming its first squadron for the Tejas fighter, called the "Flying Daggers".
The planes will be initially based in the IAF Sulur base in Coimbatore, allowing air force pilots to fly the single-engine fighter before it is deployed on operational roles. Eighteen more aircrafts, including four trainers would join the squadron by 2018.
Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in Chief, Southern Air Command, formally inducted the squadron at the Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment in Bengaluru.
Since the first flight of the LCA's technology demonstrator in January 2001, Tejas has flown nearly 3,200 sorties across regions in India, including desert and high altitude in the Himalayas, without any mishap — a rarity in new aircraft testing globally. The aircraft has got an initial operational clearance and is expected to get the final operational clearance by 2016 end.
The air force expects to raise six squadrons of the homegrown fighter in a decade.
Tejas is a light weight, single engine, multi-role supersonic fighter that adopts fly by wire technology, computer controlled cockpit that helps pilots handle the plane better electronically.
The aircraft is designed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a unit of India's defence research and development organisation (DRDO). Hindustan Aeronautics, the public sector plane maker, will manufacture the aircraft at its facility in Bengaluru.
"It shows the commitment of the IAF for the aircraft," Kota Harinarayana, chief designer and former programme head of the Tejas aircraft had said in January . "In the years to come, Tejas will be the backbone of the IAF. They have committed order for 120 aircraft, it is now for the production agency to deliver."
In January, the chief of Indian Air Force Air Marshal Raha's flew on a trainer aircraft, officially signalling the formation of the squadron.
In 2001, the then IAF chief Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis had to be cajoled to be in Bengaluru to witness the first flight of the LCA.
The test pilots of IAF's Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) — the elite school that tests and certifies every aircraft type used by the force — have flown the single-engine supersonic fighter, according to the Aeronautical Development Agency.
The aircraft is powered by a GE-404 engine and an advanced version that will see modifications in the structure. It will have a more powerful GE-414 power plant made by General Electric.
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