IAF set to induct 6 LCA squadrons

[StormShadow]

Giving a big thrust to the indigenous fighter jet programme, Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to induct six squadrons of Tejas light combat aircraft over the next 10 years, which will allow the IAF to pack more punch in its aerial strikes.

“IAF plans to induct six LCA squadrons by the end of the 13th Plan,” minister of state for defence M M Pallam Raju said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The development phase for LCA (light combat force) began in 1983 and the first technology demonstrator flew in 2001. Four years later, IAF placed the first order of 20 Tejas at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore. Subsequently, it placed order for another squadron.

The first two squadrons – 40 aircraft – of LCA, are first generation Mark-I version. The additional four squadrons would be Tejas Mark-II aircraft with a higher powered engine.

Raju indicated that money would not come in the way of LCA development. The Centre sanctioned Rs 11,845.2 crore to Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) till date while the total expenditure incurred so far is Rs 5,051.46 crore, he said.

Only last week, the penultimate developmental aircraft Tejas limited series production - 7 (LSP-7) successfully undertook its maiden flight from HAL airport. The LSP-7 aircraft, along with LSP- 8 will be offered to the IAF for user evaluation trials.

The LSP-7 flight is also the first time that a LCA maiden flight was not accompanied by the customary chase aircraft, which is an indicator to the level of confidence defence scientists and IAF have in the machine, defence research and development organisation stated. IAF plans to station the first two LCA squadron at Sulur near Coimbatore and Kayathir near Tuticorin.

IAF set to induct 6 LCA squadrons

 

[JonAsad]

when you have hornets- mere flees doesn't matter-

 

[StormShadow]

^^^

 

[Luftwaffe]

We heard IAF was set to induct 250 lCas in the future looks like Rafale has taken the chunck of investment from lca the number shrinked down to 108 from 250 which means more than 126 Rafales would be procured in some point of time.

 

[JonAsad]

^^^

Hornets-

Flees-

Now?-

 

[IndianArmy]

Hornets-

Flees-

Now?-

Hahahahahahaha

 

[JonAsad]

^^ nice to see you back sir-

 

[IndianArmy]

^^ nice to see you back sir-

Pleasure seeing you here. You are Growing strong as ever Gentleman..

 

[Jon Snow]

It was pretty much confirmed already - we had already ordered 40 mk1s and ordered 99 engines for mk2 so IAF would induct at least 80 mk2.

 

[StormShadow]

Hornets-

Flees-

Now?-

Now also not clear

I thought flee is

What you were talking was flea

 

[sancho]

We heard IAF was set to induct 250 lCas in the future looks like Rafale has taken the chunck of investment from lca the number shrinked down to 108 from 250 which means more than 126 Rafales would be procured in some point of time.

First of all, the 250 were initially planned numbers to replace Mig 21s, but that requirement was splitted in LCA and MMRCA, just like the LUH requirement was splitted into HAL LUH and foreign LUH.

Secondly, the artice says 2 x squads of MK1 = 40 fighters + 4 x MK2 = 80 fighters => total of 120 fighters!

Thirdly, these are the numbers of LCA with foreign engines (GE 404 IN20 + GE 414 INS6), while the plan seems to be to integrate Kaveri / Snecma into MK2 for further orders and exports + to replace the engines of MK1 during MLU.

Additional Rafale orders will depend on capability of LCA MK2 or on induction of FGFA, if the earlier turns out to be good enough, it will be more cost-effective to buy more of them, since they will be produced at the same time anyway. The latter will also produced around the time of MMRCA, the better it will be, the higher the chances of additional orders.

 

[JonAsad]

Now also not clear

I thought flee is

What you were talking was flea

spelling mistake is acceptable when autocorrection is on-
but for the wise ones- the mention of hornets and the context should hv been enough to identify which was the intended flea- -

 

[StormShadow]

spelling mistake is acceptable when autocorrection is on-
but for the wise ones- the mention of hornets and the context should hv been enough to identify which was the intended flea- -

Then why does my autcorrection not make a mistake?

 

[Abingdonboy]

If you have any knowledge on Indian defence procurement you'd know there is a strong likelihood of large follow-on orders. Also The 40 Mk.1 are going to have to be replaced by Mk.2 once all 4 SQDs of Mk.2 are inducted. IAF is also likely to go for 200 MMRCA to boost SQD strength to ~50 by 2022/4 as previous ACM had stated.

 

[sudhir007]

did HAL or ADA complete the weapon trail ????