It’s a historic day in India as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over the first two Tejas aircraft to Indian Air Force which will make up the ‘Flying Daggers 45’, the name of the first squadron of the LCA. Two of the single-engine multi-role fighter jets, pegged to be the world’s smallest and lightest supersonic fighter. They will be stationed in Bengaluru. The Flying Daggers squadron will have the SP-1 and SP-2 versions of Tejas.
The aircraft performed remarkably well at the Bahrain International Air Show held in February 2016. Its composites-built airframe and small size enhance its stealth features translate into a small radar signal, making it incredibly difficult to be detected. Group Captain M Rangachari is the first commanding officer of the flying dagger squadron. He has seven officers under him initially, 42 air warriors and about 20 non-commissioned officers.
Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in Chief of the Air Force’s Southern Command and Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Baduria were also present on Friday, filling in for Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who had flown in the Tejas last month and said the plane is fit for induction. The aircraft’s design and development programme is being led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the Indian Department of Defense, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the prime industrial contractor.
In August 1983, LCA approved this project with initial of Rs. 560 Crore, to replace ageing MiG-21s. After that in January 2001, first prototype of multi-role flies is made. After 11 years single engine Tejas gets Initial operational clearance. In 2015 first Tejas is ready for induction into IAF and in 2016, first squadron to be raised with 4 jets.
The Tejas is also distinctive with its Glass Cockpit, which refers to a modern cockpit in which all the round dialed electro-mechanical instruments have been replaced with Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and a Head up Display (HUD). In terms of the weapons that it can carry, Tejas is designed to host a veritable plethora of air to air, air to surface, precision guided and standoff weaponry. In the air to air arena, the Tejas carries long range beyond visual range weapons. The overall cost of Tejas is Rs.55,000 Crore including development of IAF and Naval variants, trainers, cost of 120 jets for IAF and 50 for Navy.
When the first two Tejas aircraft was inducted, the Commanding Officer of the ‘Flying Daggers 45’ Madhav Rangachari said “It is comparable and on par with any fourth generation fighter aircraft you have in world today”.
The air force has a modern fighter which will only get better through modifications and additions to its capabilities.