In Photos: When India’s LCA Tejas Took First Flight

Conceived as a replacement to the MiG-21, Tejas was inducted into No 45 Squadron of the Indian Air Force in 2016.

(This article was first published on 1 July, 2016 and is being republished from The Quint’s archives in the backdrop of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on 13 January, approving the procurement of 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) at a cost of about Rs 48,000 crore.)

The Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas” was inducted into No 45 Squadron of the Indian Air Force on 1 July, 2016. The Squadron is also called the “Flying Daggers”.

Tejas is the first advance Fly-by-wire (FBW) fighter aircraft designed, developed and manufactured in India.

Conceived as a MiG-21 replacement, the aircraft has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Also read:
‘Made in India’ Tejas Joins Indian Air Force: All You Need to Know
Celebrating Tejas is Great but IAF Will Face Turbulence Ahead