India’s Enhanced LCA Tejas Fighter Jets ‘Roaring To Soar’; Aircraft Carrier Vikrant Set To Become ‘Action Ready’

The year 2022 is expected to be eventful for India as the country’s armed forces are set to induct the first indigenously developed aircraft carrier (IAC-I) while the MK-1A variant of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will take to the skies by June.

The Navy said the IAC-I Vikrant has set sail for the third phase of sea trials, which will include complex maneuvers to establish detailed readings of how the ship performs in various conditions.

Since August 2021, the aircraft carrier has been undertaking sea trials.

Additionally, all LCA Tejas jets, which are in the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) stage, will be delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2022, while the LCA MK-1A, with specific enhancements, will fly by the middle of this year, R. Madhavan, CMD of the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The Defense Ministry had struck a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL in February last year to provide 83 LCA MK-1A to the IAF. The first three aircraft will be delivered in 2024, followed by 16 aircraft per year for the next five years, according to the Ministry.