HAL hands over LCA Tejas Twin Seater to IAF

LCA Tejas Twin Seater air craft has been handed over to the Indian Air Force at a ceremony held in Bangalore on 04 October, 2023. Speaking on the occasion Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt said that the inception of the LCA Tejas aircraft was rooted in the dream of equipping our Indian Air Force with a world-class indigenous fighter aircraft. It was a dream that many believed was too ambitious at the beginning of the programme, but the men and women at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), DRDO Labs, CEMILAC, DGAQA, PSUs, IAF and countless other institutions and individuals who contributed to this programme proved that nothing is impossible when the country’s interest comes first and all institutions come together for completion of this important cause.

Underlining the significance of LCA Tejas program, Raksha Rajya Mantri said that the country gained the much-required knowledge of building a cutting-edge fighter aircraft and also developed & nurtured aerospace ecosystem. The development of LCA Tejas has spurred the growth of a robust defence and aerospace industry in India. It has created opportunities for countless small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, and skilled workers who have contributed to various aspects of this project. The HAL’s first Series Production twin seater of LCA Tejas decked with state-of-the-art technology, agility, and versatility, will provide suitable training to the Pilots of IAF.  The IAF has already placed an order for 83 LCAs with HAL