LCA Tejas to be Star Attraction at Aero India 2015

India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas which was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) yesterday is expected to be the star attraction at the Aero India 2015 event in Bangalore.

The aircraft which had enthralled crowds at Aero India 2013 with its breath-taking aerobatics may put up an even more impressive show, now that it has completed its flight test program or Initial Operational Clearance –II which signifies that it is airworthy in different flying conditions.

At least three versions of the LCA Tejas, the IAF version, the Naval version and the trainer version will either fly at the show or will be displayed on the ground, informed sources told defenseworld.net.

The LCA has completed over 3000 flying hours without any hitch which makes it one of the most elaborate test programs of any aircraft manufacturer in the world.

The Tejas Series Production-1 (LCA-SP1) was handed over by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to IAF chief Air Marshal Arup Raha, yesterday marking its entry into the IAF service.

A news agency report said quoting HAL sources that the production of LCA Tejas will be 20 aircraft by 2017-2018, to make the first squadron of the aircraft. HAL's LCA Project Group has been upgraded to a full- fledged division to look after production in a systematic way with more investments.