+ghostrider883 526 Posted July 2, 2016 (edited) The journey from Tejas's first flying prototype KH-2001 to LA-5001 took three days short of 15 and half years. Proud day for us Indians!!! After the HF-24 Marut, the Tejas is the first Indian fighter to enter squadron service. The country witnessed today a fine aerobatic display of LA-5001 by the CO,Group Captain Madhav Rangachari,on the eve of the squadron formation ceremony. The indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru on Friday. The LCA, that was christened Tejas (radiance in Sanskrit) by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, would replace the ageing MiG-21s in the IAF’s fleet. At the induction ceremony in Bengaluru’s Aircraft System Testing Establishment, Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command, handed over two Tejas fighters (LA-5001 & LA-5002) to No. 45 Squadron “Flying Daggers.’’ This squadron was formed in 1957 and took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. The squadron's MiG-21bis were involved in shooting down an intruding Pakistan Navy Atlantique in 1999. Sporting the IAF’s colours, the single-engine aircraft soared to the sky marking the raising of the first squadron of Tejas in the IAF at a ceremony preceded by inter-faith prayers. The first Tejas aircraft, the smallest and lightest of its class, was flown by Commanding Officer Group Captain Madhav Rangachari for a sortie for about seven minutes at the induction ceremony. It was given water cannon salute on landing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the induction of Tejas as a matter of “unparalleled pride and happiness.” The Flying Daggers, the first squadron of the Tejas indigenous light combat aircraft, which currently comprises two jets, will touch its full strength of 20 by 2018. Though it has been inducted, the Tejas is not completely combat-ready. It is equipped with close combat air-to-air missiles, helmet-mounted display and precision-guided bombs. The final version (Mk.1A) will incorporate beyond visual range (BVR) missiles, improved stand-off weapons, and mid-air refuelling capability. IAF also wants an active electronically scanned array radar and advanced electronic warfare suite. The Air Force will begin to get the Tejas it really wants only by 2020. Group Captain Madhav Rangachari, the first commanding officer of the Tejas squadron, completed the first 20-minute flight after Tejas was inducted. The squadron will have seven officers, 42 air warriors and 20 non-commissioned officers to begin with. The Flying Daggers will remain in Bengaluru for about two years before moving to its permanent base in Sulur in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district in 2018. HAL is expected to deliver the next two aircraft in the next few months and three more by mid-2017. Air Marshal Walia said: "It is our aircraft and we will get more of it. The final operational clearance (FOC) is expected in March 2017 and by 2018-end we should have 20 aircraft (including four trainers) as part of the squadron, when it goes to Sulur." Edited July 2, 2016 by ghostrider883 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stratos 3,186 Posted July 2, 2016 It's a beautiful plane, and I think is a great addition to Indian arsenal. You guys can be proud, congratulations!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted July 21, 2016 Happy you're finally putting those 21s out for retirement, long overdue. Far too many lost to maintenance failures. Hopefully this will be far safer and far more effective! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 629 Posted July 22, 2016 Congrats on the new aircraft, best of luck with! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
