<p>The Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to receive its first home-grown combat aircraft with beyond-visual range strike capabilities next February, the defence ministry said here on Friday.</p>.<p>The delivery of Tejas LCA-Mk-1A aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is likely to commence from February, 2024, the ministry said in a statement, while marking the seventh anniversary of the induction of the made-in-India fighter jet.</p>.<p>The 83 LCA Mk-1A aircraft – contracted by the defence ministry in 2021 at a price of Rs 47,000 crore - will also have active electronically steered radar, an updated electronic warfare suite and a beyond-visual range missile system.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/certain-metallurgical-design-issues-identified-in-dhruv-choppers-1232234.html" target="_blank">Certain metallurgical, design issues identified in Dhruv choppers</a></strong></p>.<p>“The new variant will be capable of firing weapons from increased stand-off ranges and many of these weapons will be of indigenous origin. The LCA MK-1A will see a substantial increase in the indigenous content of the aircraft,” it said.</p>.<p>Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. Two IAF units – 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, both in Sulur – are currently flying the aircraft and more squadrons will take it up.</p>.<p>The indigenous fighter jet is one of the military products that India has pitched for exports with Egypt, Argentina, USA, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines showing interest.</p>.<p>The Mark-1A version would be having 43 “improvements” from the first lot of 40 LCA Tejas that the IAF earlier purchased from the HAL at a price of Rs 8,802 crore.</p>.<p>The improvements include digital radar warning receivers and external self-protection jammers besides having better maintainability for which additional infrastructure will be required.</p>
<p>The Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to receive its first home-grown combat aircraft with beyond-visual range strike capabilities next February, the defence ministry said here on Friday.</p>.<p>The delivery of Tejas LCA-Mk-1A aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is likely to commence from February, 2024, the ministry said in a statement, while marking the seventh anniversary of the induction of the made-in-India fighter jet.</p>.<p>The 83 LCA Mk-1A aircraft – contracted by the defence ministry in 2021 at a price of Rs 47,000 crore - will also have active electronically steered radar, an updated electronic warfare suite and a beyond-visual range missile system.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/certain-metallurgical-design-issues-identified-in-dhruv-choppers-1232234.html" target="_blank">Certain metallurgical, design issues identified in Dhruv choppers</a></strong></p>.<p>“The new variant will be capable of firing weapons from increased stand-off ranges and many of these weapons will be of indigenous origin. The LCA MK-1A will see a substantial increase in the indigenous content of the aircraft,” it said.</p>.<p>Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. Two IAF units – 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, both in Sulur – are currently flying the aircraft and more squadrons will take it up.</p>.<p>The indigenous fighter jet is one of the military products that India has pitched for exports with Egypt, Argentina, USA, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines showing interest.</p>.<p>The Mark-1A version would be having 43 “improvements” from the first lot of 40 LCA Tejas that the IAF earlier purchased from the HAL at a price of Rs 8,802 crore.</p>.<p>The improvements include digital radar warning receivers and external self-protection jammers besides having better maintainability for which additional infrastructure will be required.</p>
