IAF inducts two Tejas Light Combat Aircraft in 'Flying Daggers'

By
Published on: 1 July 2016 4:30 AM GMT
IAF inducts two Tejas Light Combat Aircraft in Flying Daggers
X

New Delhi: Indian Air Force, on Friday, will launch the new Squadron 45 ‘Flying Daggers’ which will induct two indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft which were showcased for the first time on the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath this year.

According to an IAF official, “Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command, will formally induct the squadron at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment.”

The IAF official stated that while the squadron will be inducted with two Tejas aircrafts on Friday, it will further get the remaining 18 aircraft including four trainers by year 2018.

The squadron for LCA will be based in Bengaluru for the first two years and will be shifted to Sulur in Tamil Nadu later. The aircraft are likely to perform a sortie during the induction ceremony.

About the LCA:

  • IAF will induct the first squadron of indigenous Tejas after a gap of 33 years.
  • State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will hand over the first two Tejas aircraft to IAF.
  • The LCA project began in 1985 and the IAF planned to induct it in 1994 to replace the MiG-21s. IAF claimed that LCAs are better than MIGs which are old and parts are difficult to get.
  • The first level of flight worthiness or Initial Operational Clearance was achieved by LCA in December 2013, after many delays.
  • IAF expects the Final Operational Clearance by the end of 2016.

Next Story