Aerospace

Indian Air Force receives first LCA Tejas twin-seater aircraft

First LCA Mark1A fighter aircraft squadron to be deployed at Nal air base

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive the first-ever twin-seater Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru. Ajay Bhatt, the state minister for defense, attended this historic event at the LCA Tejas division factory of HAL with Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.

First series production LCA Tejas trainer carries out first flight(Opens in a new browser tab)

The delivery of all 83 aircraft is anticipated to be finished by 2029, with HAL delivering the first three aircraft in the third year (2024) and 16 aircraft a year for the subsequent five years.

HAL hands over the first LCA Tejas twin seater to IAF in presence of Rakha Rajya Mantri, Mr Ajay Bhatt at a ceremony in Bengaluru.“I am proud to be part of this historic occasion and salute the spirit of HAL which has been spearheading Swadeshi manufacturing in Defence”, he said. pic.twitter.com/wHv5mj9XkU
— HAL (@HALHQBLR) October 4, 2023

“We have now agreed to a contract for 83 more LCAs, and we want to buy 97 more LCAs. The Indian Air Force will purchase a fleet of 220 LCAs in the upcoming years. The nation should be proud of itself, the IAF head declared on Wednesday.

The LCA Tejas twin seater is a 4.5-generation, lightweight, multi-role aircraft. According to HAL, it combines modern ideas and technology including effortless maneuvering, advanced glass cockpits, integrated digital avionics systems, and advanced composite materials for the airframe. Other features include relaxed static stability, quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control, and relaxed static stability.

India plans to build HAL Tejas fighter jet manufacturing line in Egypt.(Opens in a new browser tab)

As a result, India joins a select group of “very few” developed nations that have developed such skills and implemented them in their armed forces, the report stated, adding that this is yet another accomplishment for the government of India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.

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Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.