The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was reviewed by Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on August 22 at Air Headquarters.
This review was done a day before the LCA Tejas carried out the maiden test firing of an Astra MK-1 Indigenous BVR Air to Air Missile off India’s west coast. The BVR Missile, made in India, was launched from the LSP-07 Tejas.
There were also senior individuals there from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
Those in attendance were reassured by the Chairman and Managing Director of HAL that exports of this upgraded model of the LCA will begin in February 2024.
CAS, while applauding the production agency HAL, stated that based on their assurances, the LCA Mk 1A may be integrated into one of the operational bases of the Indian Air Force (IAF) early the next year. The CAS applauded the efforts of all parties involved and stressed the necessity of incorporating the lessons learnt from the LCA programme into future indigenous Design and Developmental projects.
Despite the review indicating that the project was running behind schedule, CAS made these positive remarks. In the coming months, the LCA Mk 1A will likely see a rise in deployments to forward locations and participation in international exercises. This is anticipated to occur due to on-time deliveries of the more capable model.
During his opening remarks, CAS stated that the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has been the flagship of the IAF’s efforts to indigenise its aircraft fleet. Due to the nature of this endeavour, which is of national significance, he stressed that all stakeholders must adopt a strategy of collaboration to guarantee that it will be successful. Even more importantly, it demonstrates India’s autonomy in the aerospace industry.
During the evaluation, it was mentioned that the IAF had received all of the LCA Mk 1 fighter variants that had been contracted for.
The IAF has placed an order for 83 LCA Mk-1A aircraft in 2021.
