Last of FOC Tejas variant enters Production floor

Source : RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG.

First production variant Tejas in HAL facility (File Photo)

Dr. Anantha Krishnan of Tarmak Media House has released a picture of SP-36 on the Assembly Jig at LCA-Tejas Division at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore. SP-36 is the 16th and last of the single-seater FOC Standard LCA-Tejas aircraft that was ordered by the IAF in the first batch. 7th and 8th FOC Standard LCA-Tejas aircraft are ready and waiting for conclusions of the ground trials before they are cleared for the first flight. 9th and 10th FOC are also in the advanced stages of fabrication and assembly and most likely will be handed over to IAF by March next year.

SP-36 is the 16th FOC Standard LCA-Tejas aircraft that will be handed over sometime next year to IAF. HAL already has started assembly of SPT-1 and SPT-2 FOC Standard LCA-Tejas Trainer aircraft and will be manufacturing 18 that were ordered by IAF throughout 2022-23.

HAL already has announced that the first FTB (Flying Test Bed) for Tejas Mk1A to demonstrate all the upgraded components and technologies earmarked for the Tejas Mk1A aircraft will take to air by March 2022. HAL will start the supply of Tejas Mk1A in batches once it enters production, first 2 aircraft by March 2024, 8 in 2025, and 14 in 2026, 16 each from 2027 till 2029.

Fourth or rather the Third Production line of LCA-Tejas will go active from 2024-25 in Aircraft Division, Nasik with production capabilities of 5 jets per year in case HAL can win the first export order for the LCA-Tejas aircraft by 2023, even if doesn’t it will be used for the production of other Variants that have been planned. Aircraft Division, Nasik will continue to be used to undertake repair and overhaul of Sukhoi-30MKI fleet after the closure of the production line and talks are with IAF to convert it into a full-fledged production line for the LCA MkII Program since the AMCA Production line will be set up at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

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