Earlier, the IAF deputy chief, Air Marshal SBP Singh, had flown the Tejas in September 2014.
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Air Chief Marshall Arup Raha flew in a twin-seater version of the multi-role supersonic Tejas on Tuesday morning, to evaluate its performance as well as to instill confidence in the young air warriors who would eventually fly them. “It is a good aircraft for induction into IAF operations”, he said after the 30-minute sortie.
The IAF will initially be receiving four LCAs to raise its first Tejas squadron.
According to defence ministry sources, Air Chief Marshal Raha will be on a day-long trip to Bengaluru on Tuesday, during which he will fly the LCA.
HAL spokesman Gopal Sutar told IANS that Air Chief Marshal Raha piloted the aircraft during the 30-minute sortie and conducted aerial manoeuvres to check its versatility.
HAL chairman Suvarna Raju said in an interview to Bharat Shakti portal that his company is presently executing the order for 20 aircraft.
The Air Chief Marshal carried out manoeuvres in the entire flying envelope of the aircraft.
The Air Chief also stock of HTT-40 (Basic Trainer) which was parked on the tarmac besides visiting LCA production line and other facilities, the release added.
Tejas LCA, the home-grown light combat aircraft developed by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been in the making for 33 long years, during the course of which the fighter jet has seen its share of design limitations and missed deadlines.
The series production of the Tejas aircraft has already commenced at HAL and the first squadron of the LCA is expected to be ready by July. Moreover, the fighter is to get an AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar and advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite, and mid-air refueling capability, for the Mark-IA version that the IAF actually wants. A proposal for doubling production of Tejas – to 16 from eight per annum is being processed. He also carried out simulated air to air and air to ground attacks.
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The Light Combat aircraft programme began in the eighties to replace India’s fleet of Russian designed MiG-21 fighters. Its final phase of weapon trials, including firing of BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, is now under way.
