Almost three decades after the idea was first mooted, the first squadron of home-grown Light Combat Aircraft - Tejas was inducted into the Indian Air Force in Bengaluru on Friday and is set to replace the Indian Air Force's aging fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)handed over the first two Tejas aircraft after Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha took his maiden flight in May 2015 clearing it for induction.
The LCA Tejas is a single-engined, lightweight, agile, multi-role supersonic fighter and is equipped with a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire flight control system to ease handling by the pilot.
The replacement was a must since the aging MiGs have a history of accidents and was held responsible for the loss of several lives over the years.
The IAF plans to induct over 80 aircraft with better specifications known as Tejas 1A in the next three years.
Tejas has been co-developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in cooperation with HAL.
Meanwhile, Swedish defence Major Saab is in talks with HAL for helping India make the next generation version of the LCA Tejas.
Tejas has also caught the attention of foreign buyers with Sri Lanka and Egypt showing interest in the indigenously built fighter jet.
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