LCA MK-1A to take flight in June

Tags: Defence

The Chief Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) R. Madhavan said that HAL expects to deliver all Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas in the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) variant to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2022 while the LCA MK-1A, with specific enhancements, will take flight by middle of this year.

• “By June this year(2022) we should start flying the LCA MK-1A configuration. Once flying starts, we have about 20 to 24 months of testing. Once that is done, we will be ready for deliveries as expected”, said Mr. Madhavan.
• He then added that the design for LCA MK-2, a much bigger aircraft, has been frozen and some of the manufacturing activities have started. Hopefully by this year(2022) end or early 2023 we should have the first roll out of the aircraft, and one year after that it will be taking to the skies.