Final operational clearance for LCA in June 2015

The indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will be given the final operational clearance (FOC) in June 2015 for induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF), a senior defence scientist said Friday.

"FOC for LCA Tejas will be given in June next year for induction into the IAF fleet, which is behind schedule by six months," Defence Research and Development Orgainsiation's (DRDO) chief controller (Aero) K. Tamilmani told reporters here.

The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (Cemilac) gave initial operational clearance (IOC) to the homegrown fighter in December 2013 for evaluation by IAF ace pilots on various parameters.

"The combat aircraft has been integrated with radars and sensors for flight operations. We have also equipped Tejas with electronic warfare to fire rockets, laser guided bombs and beyond visual range missiles," Tamilmani said on the margins of the 28th National Convention of Aerospace Engineers here.

As a single-engine multi-role supersonic fighter, Tejas is slated to replace the IAF's ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet when it is inducted in six squadrons after the FOC.

Though the fourth generation aircraft has been in the making for over three decades, it can fly at 1,350 km per hour and is comparable to the world's best fighters such as the French Mirage 2000, the American F-16 and the Swedish Gripen.

Weighing 8.5 tonnes, the LCA can carry three tonnes of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, laser guided bombs, guns, conventional/retarded bombs and beyond visual range missiles.

Each squadron will have 20 fighters and will be based at Sulur Air Force base near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

The state-run DRDO and its subsidiaries such as Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) have identified critical technology to design and develop an advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) after approvals by the central government.

Earlier, addressing about 500 delegates at the convention, Tamilmani favoured setting up of an Aeronautical Commission on the lines of the Space Commission and the Atomic Energy Commission to integrate research and development efforts of the various state-run defence agencies across the country.

"Such a statutory commission will provide thrust to projects and synergise efforts of the defence R&D labs for greater indigenisation of products with the help of the private sector," Tamilmani said.

As the state-run defence behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has an installed capacity to roll out only four-eight LCAs a year, while the IAF needs 20 fighters annually for early induction and formation of Tejas squadrons, the scientist said the private sector should be allowed to augment production after technology transfer.