Tejas Light Combat Aircraft: Here's how India created its first Flying Dagger
India's first indigenous light combat Tejas Light Combat Aircraft was inducted into the IAF yesterday. Take a look at the 33-year-long journey of this aircraft's creation.
In Short
- LCA programme began in 1984.
- First successful flight on on January 4, 2001.
- Each Tejas costs around Rs 250 crore.
The Indian Air Force inducted its first indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft yesterday, ending a 33-year wait.
The jets were inducted into the Flying Daggers 45, a new IAF squadron, at a ceremony in Bengaluru.
Here's how this dream came true:
What is the Tejas?
Built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tejas is a multi-role light combat aircraft comprising of a single-jet engine and single seat. It has been designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The Tejas is the second supersonic fighter developed by HAL after HF-24 Marut. The naval version of the Tejas is currently undergoing tests for the Indian Navy.
Where did it all begin?
By the early 1980s, the IAF realised the need to replace the ageing MiG-21 fighters. The 'Long Term Re-Equipment Plan 1981' cited that by mid 1990s, these aircraft would reach "the end of their service lives".
This, in turn, would lead to a 40 per cent shortfall in the IAF of such combat jets.
In this light, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was launched in the 1980s. It had two primary purposes: one was the replacement of the MiG-21s, and the other was to boost advancement of India's domestic aviation capabilities.
Back then, no single organisation had the capability to develop such an aircraft by itself. The makers of the last indigenous fighter jet, the HF 24 in 1961, had shut shop. Hence, the only way for the LCA programme to succeed was to start from scratch.
In 1984, the government appointed the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to handle the LCA programme along with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and other institutions.
How the Tejas reached the sky
The LCA design for a new aircraft was finalised in 1990. It was a small tail-less delta wing prototype with advanced features like Relaxed Static Stability, meant to enhance manoeuvrability.
A demonstrator aircraft named TD-1 was successfully flown on January 4, 2001. It was a historic day when Indian skies saw an indigenous aircraft after almost 40 years.
With that, then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee named this aircraft 'Tejas', which means 'radiant' in Sanskrit.
After several tests and multiple prototype vehicles making successful flights, the Tejas received its certification for release to service in January 2011, 28 long years after its conception.
In 2012, however, the Tejas was grounded for over three months due to a safety issue regarding the pilot's helmets. Further tests resumed in November that year.
How much the project cost?
The LCA project was first sanctioned in August 1983 at a cost of Rs 560 crore to build six prototypes. But now, the overall programme will cost India around Rs 60,000 crore.
Not only has the LCA been in the making for 33 years, with deadlines being missed time and again, its overall developmental cost has also zoomed up to Rs 17,269 crore. This includes the Kaveri aeroengine, sanctioned in 1989 at a cost of Rs 2,839 crore, which miserably flopped.
Consequently, while the first lot of Tejas will be powered by the American GE-404 engines, the Mark-II ones will have the more powerful GE F-414 engines at their heart.
Over and above the developmental cost, each Tejas will cost around Rs 250 crore. So, the induction of 160 Tejas - 120 for IAF, 40 for Navy - will cost another Rs 40,000 crore.
Finally, our own jet
Earlier this year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar promised the Indian Air Force "three to four Tejas" jets in 2016 and a total of eight squadrons in following eight years.
"We are also in the process of approving the second line of manufacturing to the HAL so that they can produce 16 aircraft per year," Parrikar said in Lok Sabha.
Finally, HAL handed over the first two Tejas aircraft to IAF yesterday, making it a proud day in the history of Indian aerospace.
Read more:
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