Tejas moves closer to final clearance, induction

[wolfschanzze]

Tejas moves closer to final clearance, induction
Chethan Kumar,TNN | Oct 1, 2014, 03.31 PM IST

BANGALORE: Air Commodore (retd) KA Muthanna, on Tuesday, successfully took to skies the series production (SP) standard light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas on its maiden flight, taking the aircraft closer to final clearance and induction into the IAF.

The series production was finalized in September last year and received the second initial operational clearance (IOC-II) in December last year. It has taken one full year for the aircraft which will now await the final operational clearance (FOC) to embark on its maiden flight.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which has been extremely critical of the project, had wanted an IOC-II because the aircraft was found 'unworthy' for the forces after the initial operational clearance in January 2012.

"Generally there is the IOC and then the FOC, in this case, despite the IOC in 2012, IAF was not ready to accept the aircraft for final clearance and IOC-II took place in December last year after a series of issues were sorted out," a well-placed source said.

The cost of one single SP standard LCA, a senior HAL official said, could touch about Rs 160 crore. "Initially the cost was estimated to be about Rs 120-crore, but now I think it will cost us at least Rs 40 crore more per aircraft," he said.

HAL chairman R K Tyagi, in an official statement said: "The aircraft is now ready for IAF operations." But that may depend on the successful completion of FOC, a date for which is yet to be scheduled.

IAF has sought 20 LCAs in the first phase and the demand for the aircraft is likely to go up.


Tejas moves closer to final clearance, induction - The Times of India

 

[Utkarsh]

Damn, the price of a single SP standard LCA is only 160 Crore, which translates to 26.3 Million $

LCA is ONLY 26.3 Million $ per Aircraft !!!!! This is UNBELIEVABLE. Arjun Tank is supposed to cost 10 Million $

 

[skynet]

Damn, the price of a single SP standard LCA is only 160 Crore, which translates to 26.3 Million $

LCA is ONLY 26.3 Million $ per Aircraft !!!!! This is UNBELIEVABLE. Arjun Tank is supposed to cost 10 Million $

$26.3 million for FOC configration ???

 

[Utkarsh]

$26.3 million for FOC configration ???

That is what the article says. Rs. 160 Crores translates to 26.3 Million $ USD

 

[NKVD]

That is what the article says. Rs. 160 Crores translates to 26.3 Million $ USD

Yeah and 31-33 million for Naval-LCA

 

[Utkarsh]

Yeah and 31-33 million for Naval-LCA

Well the article doesn't say that, but lets see. That price is possible.

 

[bidonv]

By:www.ndtv.com
Move Over Tejas. India Wants A Second Line Of Fighter Jets.

India is keen on manufacturing a second line of fighters besides Tejas, and within 6 months, will begin the process of deciding which foreign manufacturer will make the jets in India, sources told NDTV.

The Ministry of Defence has already had several rounds of discussions on this issue.

The second line of fighters will be in the category of the medium multi-role combat aircraft, or MMRCA, sources said. The Tejas is a Light Combat Aircraft. The second line of fighters will be chosen so that besides meeting the requirements of the Indian Air Force, they can also be exported.

There are only about half a dozen fighter jet manufacturers in the world. The manufacturer chosen will most likely have to partner with an Indian company under the "Make in India" programme. The Indian company will be the government's strategic partner for the fighter programme.

During the recent visit of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar asked what kind of technology US companies can share.

Over the next 20 years, the Air Force will need at least 250-300 fighters besides the Tejas, as the aging fleets are phased out.

Starting July, the Air Force will induct 120 single-engine Tejas fighters. Besides, India is buying 36 Rafale jets from France.

But apart from just maintaining the current strength, "we also need to increase the numbers of fighters," a top Defence Ministry official told NDTV.

India needs 42 fighter squadrons, but currently has 33 and the numbers are likely drop drastically over the next few years, when the Russian-made aging MiG-21 and MiG-27 fleets are retired. By the end of next decade, most of the French-made Mirage 2000 and the British-made Jaguars will also be ready for retirement.


Before his visit, US defence manufacturing giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which manufacture the F-16, met top defence ministry officials and proposed to manufacture F16 "Super Viper" and a customised version F/A-18 Super Hornet..............Read more