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New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is all set to celebrate a momentous event with the maiden flight of the Tejas MK1A fighter jet from its Nashik facility on October 17; However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will not receive delivery of the Tejas Mk1A.
According to the official invitation of HAL, the event will be marked by the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at HAL’s Manufacturing Division, Nashik, Maharashtra.
This will also mark the inauguration of HAL’s third production line for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
However, officials have confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will not receive delivery of the Tejas Mk1A.
Despite this maiden flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, the Indian Air Force is facing delays in jet delivery.
In particular, the Mk1A program, scheduled for induction last year, is facing continuous delays, and the primary reason for this is the disruption in the supply of GE F404 engines from the United States.
At a press conference earlier this month, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh had commented on the arrival of the Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft, “We are eagerly waiting for the LCA Mk1A – it feels like we have hungry mouths waiting for food.”
The state-of-the-art Tejas Mk-1A Tejas is an upgraded version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and will replace the recently retired MiG-21 fleet.
The Indian Air Force phased out the MiG-21 on September 26 after more than six decades in service.
The Tejas MK-1A features advanced avionics, a modern radar system, superior weapon capabilities and a state-of-the-art electronic warfare suite. With a top speed of over 2,200 km/h, it is designed for advanced combat performance and operational flexibility.
Last month, on September 25, the Defense Ministry signed a contract worth Rs 62,370 crore with HAL for the supply of 97 Tejas MK-1A fighter jets – 68 single-seater and 29 twin-seater trainer variants. This deal is expected to significantly increase the operational strength of the Indian Air Force.
HAL officials said the production of LCA MK-1A is gaining momentum. The company recently received four GE-404 jet engines from US manufacturer General Electric, with a total of 12 engines expected to be delivered by the end of this financial year. These engines will power the first batch of aircraft.
–IANS
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