Article Posted on : - Aug 03, 2011

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Air Force has ordered 40 Tejas Mark-I aircraft and two such planes would be ready for induction by March 2012, Defence Minister A K Antony said.

"Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas has been completed in December 2010. So far 1,659 flight tests have been completed. IAF has ordered 40 Tejas Mk-I aircraft. Two aircraft will be ready by March 2012 for induction," Antony informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Replying to a question, he said that out of the 40 aircraft ordered by IAF, 20 were ordered under IOC standards, while the rest were requisitioned as per the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) standards.

A total of Rs 5,777 crore has been sanctioned for the development of the indigenous LCA programme for the IAF, he said.

"LCA, Tejas Phase-II Programme (IAF version) was sanctioned in November 2001 at a cost of Rs 3301.78 crore with probable date of completion of December 2008. The project is likely to be completed by December 2012 with an additional cost of Rs 2475.78 crore," Antony noted.

The additional cost is to meet the expanded scope of the programme, increased cost of materials, manpower, maintenance of facilities and others, he said.

Phased development approach has been changed to concurrent development approach.

"Annual Review by Raksha Mantri, review by Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and quarterly review by Deputy Chief of Air Staff are being regularly carried out to check the delay in completion of project," he added.