As partners in developing and engineering fighter aircraft, HAL has already provided IAF with 16 combat ready Tejas in the Initial Operation Clearance configuration

by Sunil Hebbalkar

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is scaling up the production of Tejas its Light Combat Aircraft after attaining final operational clearance by the military aviation regulator CEMILAC. According to a chief official, HAL would be delivering 16 Tejas aircraft for the Indian Air Force operational fleet by the end of this year.

Madhavan, the Chairman of HAL, was quoted stating that the company plans to provide IAF with 16 LCAs in the final operational clearance or FOC configuration by the end of this year and the remainder 4 in the forthcoming year as the company has increased manufacturing capacity by spending Rs 1,380 crore in its Bangalore hub.

As combined developer and manufacturer of the combat fighter, the city-based defence giant has already supplied the IAF with 16 Tejas in the Initial Operation Clearance or IOC configuration, stated sources close to the matter.

Madhavan also stated that of the twenty in IOC configuration, the air force has advised the company to build the remainder 4 as trainers in FOC configuration with 4 more from second order of twenty and sixteen for the operational fleet.

Sources claim that HAL would get more jigs by the months September-October to provide more fighters.

As the Light Combat Aircraft got final operational clearance for entry in the Indian Air Force fleet, HAL will expand its manufacturing capacity to develop eighty-three more LCAs once the air force issues the order for them, Madhavan noted.

Jayapal, the Chief Executive of CEMILAC, reportedly was the one who provided the release to service documents and FOC certificate to Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, the Chief of Air Staff.

Reportedly, HAL’s ‘Made in India’ fighter aircraft contains quadraplex digital fly-by-wire aircraft control system along with advanced flight control laws.