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Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), a defence public sector undertaking, has produced 16th Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) as per the target till March 31.
HAL has order for 40 LCAs (16 fighters each in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance(FOC) configuration and eight trainers) from Indian Air Force (IAF), with the customer flights are expected to be completed by the end of this month.
The aircraft was inducted into IAF squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ on July 1, 2016.The first aircraft in FOC configuration may roll-out by the end of this calendar year.
The production of LCA commenced in 2014 with a current production capacity of eight aircraft per annum. A second production line has been established at Aircraft Division (Bangalore Complex), which is carrying out structural assembly, final assembly and equipping of the aircraft.
Recently HAL had received drawings and documents related to FOC with limited clearance for LCA (Tejas) from CEMILAC and ADA. With this HAL can start working towards productionisation of FOC standard fighter aircraft.
LCA demonstrated its combat capability in the IAF’s ‘Gagan Shakti’ exercise by firing the Air-to-Air BVR Derby missile. Two LCAs will be flying at the Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace Expo (Lima- 2019) in Malaysia beginning tomorrow. HAL team will be providing the technical support at the show.
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