Indigenous light combat aircraft Tejas to get operations clearance tomorrow

India’s indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA), Tejas, is set to get its ‘initial operations clearance’ (IOC) from the Union defence minister, AK Antony, in Bangalore on January 10.

The minister will be accompanied for the function by the chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Naik.

Announcing this to media persons in Pune on Saturday afternoon, Naik said the first Tejas aircraft would be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in June 2011.

According to Naik, the first squadron of Tejas LCA would become fully operational in the IAF in 2013.

After its first flight on January 4, 2001, Tejas had successfully completed 1,452 test flights in which it has undertaken air-to-ground weapon and drop tank jettison trials. On Thursday, Tejas cleared its last hurdle before attaining the January 10-scheduled IOC with the aircraft’s integrated flight control system receiving the necessary documentation from certifying authorities.

Responding to a question on better safety and training facilities for younger IAF pilots, Naik said with the introduction of 40 British Hawk trainer aircraft at the IAF air base at Bidar, younger trainee pilots were much better equipped to fly supersonic jets.

“Yes, younger pilots are safer now than they were 10 years back,” he said.

Earlier on Saturday morning, President Pratibha Patil presented the Presidential Standard and Colours to the Pune-based 31 Squadron of Sukhoi-30 MkIs and the 9 Base Repair Depot.

An impressive march past by Air Warriors from the IAF Pune airbase and a fly-past by three Sukhoi-30 MkIs from Squadron 30 juxtaposed with a thrilling rifle drill by a special IAF unit enthralled the audience.

(With inputs from our Bangalore correspondent Hemanth CS)