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LCA Tejas

Published: 14th Mar, 2024

Context

A Tejas aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Jaisalmer, minutes after taking part in a tri-services exercise. This marks the first crash of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, which IAF began inducting in July 2016.

What is Tejas Mk-1?

  • The Tejas Mk-1 is light supersonic multirole jet, capable of doing multiple missions including-
    • air-defence (air-to-air)
    • intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
    • air-interdiction (striking enemy targets deep into enemy territory)
    • maritime strike and reconnaissance missions
  • The jet carries, an Israeli laser designating pod, multi-mode radar, helmet mounted display system and self-protection suite.
  • The Indian Air Force currently operates 40 Tejas MK-1 aircraft and it has 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters on order in a deal worth over ? 46,000 crore.

LCA Program

  • The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program was started in the early 1980s, with the Government of India (GoI) establishing the project in 1983 to replace Mig-21 fighters.
  • The first prototype took its first flight in January 2001.
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