On Wednesday in Bengaluru, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will present the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) twin-seater trainer version aircraft. Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari and Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt arrived at the LCA Tejas division plant.
The production of the LCA Twin Seater, which is built with the strategic goal of graduating aspiring pilots from Twin Seater variants to fighter Pilots, will be marked by this historic event today as the achievement of a significant milestone. Eight twin seaters will be delivered by HAL in FY 2023–2024 out of a total order for 18 twin seaters from the IAF. Additionally, 10 twin seaters would gradually be delivered by 2026–2027. IAF is also anticipated to issue additional orders.
The LCA-Tejas, India’s largest research and development program, flew for the first time in 2001 and has since reached a number of milestones. It is expected to be produced in large quantities by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bengaluru and will serve as the backbone of the IAF fleet in the years to come. HAL has already received an order for 123 aircraft, of which 32 fighters have been delivered to the IAF and two squadrons are already operational at Sulur AF base. At HAL, LCA Tejas series production is currently in full swing, and a progressive delivery schedule for the remaining aircraft is 2027–2028.