Published: 3rd Mar, 2023
Context
Five indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) along with a contingent of 110 Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel arrived at Al Dahfra airbase of United Arab Emirates (UAE) for participating in the multilateral Exercise Desert Flag VIII.
Background:
- In 2021, the defence ministry awarded a ?48,000-crore contract to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 83 LCA Mk-1A jets for the IAF.
- The first Mk-1A aircraft will be delivered in February 2024, with the rest slated to join the combat fleet by 2029.
- The government gave its nod for developing the LCA Mk-2, a platform that will form an important element of future air combat.
About the exercise:
- Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and USA would also be participating.
- The exercise is scheduled from February 27 to March 17.
- Aim: To participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.
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This is the first occasion for the LCA Tejas to participate in an international flying exercise outside India |
Light Combat Aircraft:
- The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was started by the Government of India in 1984 when they established the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to manage the LCA programme.
- It replaced the ageing Mig 21 fighter planes.
- Designed by:
- Aeronautical Development Agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development.
- Manufactured by: State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- Features:
- The lightest, smallest and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
- Designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided, weapons.
- Air to air refuelling capability.
- Maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
- It can attend the maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
- The range of the aircraft is 3,000km
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Variants of Tejas:
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