After a wait of nearly two decades, yesterday India got to see the lightweight indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) set out on its maiden journey.
After a wait of nearly two decades, yesterday India got to see the lightweight indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) set out on its maiden journey.
Developed by the state-run Aeronautical Defence Agency (ADA), Bangalore and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the fourth generation supersonic fighter was given an Initial Operational Clearance certificate by Defence Minister A K Antony.
Till now Tejas LCA has undertaken 1,510 test flights and has logged 894 hours of flight. It is estimated that by the end of 2018, the total cost of development of LCA will be Rs 150 crore.
What will it do?
Tejas LCA is the world's smallest and lightest combat aircraft. It is expected to replace the Russian-made MiG-21s and MiG-23s used in the Indian Air Force and increase the squadron strength by 2012. At present, the IAF has been asked to use 200 LCAs.
The Budget
** It was initiated in 1983 with a budget of Rs 560 crore, but later rose to a whopping Rs 5,778 crore
** Rs 200 crore for fighter versions
** Rs 210 crore for the trainer versions
** The IAF has placed orders for 40 LCA Tejas, the value is estimated around Rs 7,000 crore
Armed to teeth
It is made of aluminum-lithium alloys, carbon-fibre composites (C-FC) and titanium-alloy steels. With ELTA radar and a vertical fin, the LCA has no tail plane, which is a small horizontal wing at the tail of an aircraft to provide longitudinal stability.
Fit to carry air-to air missiles and various guide and unguided bombs, the aircrafts has a capacity to carry 4,000 kilograms of weapons in its seven hardpoints. At present, General Electric (GE) F404 is used as the engine.
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