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IAF to get Tejas edge
Indian Air Force will raise the first squadron of home-grown Light Combat Aircraft Tejas with the induction of two aircraft into the force here on Friday.
​Bengaluru: Indian Air Force will raise the first squadron of home-grown Light Combat Aircraft Tejas with the induction of two aircraft into the force here on Friday.
State-run HAL will hand over the first two Tejas aircraft to IAF which will make up the 'Flying Daggers' 45, the name of the first squadron of the LCA.
The LCA squadron induction ceremony will be held at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment here in the presence of Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in Chief, Southern Air Command, officials said. The aircraft are likely to perform a sortie during the induction ceremony.
The squadron will be based in Bengaluru for the first two years before being moved to Sulur in Tamil Nadu. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who on May 17 took his maiden flight in Tejas, had termed the aircraft as "good" for induction.
IAF has said the idea is to have a total of six aircraft this financial year and about eight in the next. Tejas will feature in combat plan of the IAF next year and will be deployed in forward bases also, it has said.
Stating that LCA squadron should be formed by July, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier this month said, "next year I think two MiG-21 squadrons are being decommissioned; this will go into initially replacing them."
