Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari states that LCA Mark 1A induction will begin the next year:
In New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) head, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, announced on Monday that the LCA Tejas Mk 1A will be introduced to the IAF during the course of the following year. The IAF commander further stated that after the prototype of the LCA Tejas Mk2 aircraft is released, manufacturing should start two to three years later.
In February 2021, the IAF agreed to purchase 83 LCA Mark 1A aircraft. Out of these 83 LCA Tejas Mk 1A aircraft, 73 will be single-seaters and the final operational clearance (FOC) trainers will make up the remaining 10. In the works are advanced medium combat aircraft for the IAF (AMCA).
“A deal for 83 LCA Mark 1As has been inked. Additionally, LCA Mark 2s and the AMCA are on the way.” IAF chief spoke. He continued by saying that a sizable chunk of the IAF’s surface-to-air guided weapon arsenal would consist of surface-to-air weaponry, medium-range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM), and new generation Akash.
IAF Chief’s statement:
Production for AMCA will begin roughly two to three years after the release of the prototype. “The LCA Mark 1A induction process will begin in 2019. According to the deal, production of the LCA Mark 2 prototype should begin two to three years after it is released. After the prototype is released, production for AMCA should be able to begin in two to three years “said the Air Chief Marshal. The IAF currently has 40 LCA Tejas Mk 1 aircraft in service. Notably, LCA Tejas Mk1 is upgraded to LCA Mk1A.
IAF Chief’s comment regarding the LCA Tejas Mk1A’s introduction:
At Aero India 2023, the centrepiece of the “India Pavilion” will be a full-scale LCA Tejas in FOC configuration. The aeroplane made multiple manoeuvres on Monday during the Aero India Show 2023.
The 14th edition of the Aero India Show was officially opened earlier in the day by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The twice-yearly event will take place from February 13 to February 17. Aero India shows this year is the largest one to date. The ceremony is taking place at the Air Force base in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. The five-day event will promote local tools and technology and forge partnerships with enterprises abroad. The event’s theme is “The runway to a billion opportunities.”