Tejas MK1A LCA fighter jet completes its maiden flight. Watch

Ankita Jain,

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In a significant milestone for India’s defense sector, the indigenously built Tejas MK1A fighter jet took its maiden flight from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Nashik facility on Friday, October 17.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of HAL’s third production line for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

Singh also launched the third production line of LCA MK1A and the second production line of Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), an indigenous basic trainer aircraft designed and manufactured by HAL for the Indian Air Force.

LCA Tejas Mk 1A, HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft and Su-30 MKI were captured in flight during the event. Watch the video here:

Addressing the event, Rajnath Singh said, “I congratulate everyone at HAL. HAL here represents the defense power of the country. When I saw the Su-30 CLA and HTT-40 flying today, my chest swelled with pride. Their flying is an example of self-reliance in the defense sector.”

The state-of-the-art Tejas Mk-1A, an upgraded version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will replace the recently retired MiG-21 fleet, which was retired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on September 26 after more than 62 years of service.

The Tejas MK-1A has advanced avionics, a new radar system, improved weapon capability and a state-of-the-art electronic warfare suite. Its top speed exceeds 2,200 km/h, making it ideal for superior combat performance and operational flexibility.

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The rollout event also featured a traditional water cannon salute for the Mk1A. Two fire tenders were deployed on either side of the runway, spraying water on the Tejas aircraft after its maiden flight.

Scheduled for induction last year, the Mk1A program has been continuously delayed, mainly due to disruptions in the supply of GE F404 engines from the United States.

“We are eagerly waiting for the LCA Mk1A – it’s like we have hungry mouths waiting for food,” Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said during a press conference earlier this month regarding the arrival of Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft.

In September, the Defense Ministry signed a A Rs 62,370 crore contract with HAL for the supply of 97 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets, including 68 single-seater and 29 twin-seater trainer variants. According to HAL officials, production of the LCA Mk-1A is gaining momentum, with the company recently receiving four GE-404 jet engines from General Electric, of which 12 are expected to be delivered by the end of the financial year.

India News