| Tejas | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| LCA Tejas LSP-02 | |
| Role | Multirole fighter |
| National origin | India |
| Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, |
| Designed by | Aeronautical Development Agency |
| First flight | 4 January 2001 |
| Introduction | 2011 (projected) |
| Status | Under development / pre-production |
| Primary users | Indian Air Force Indian Navy |
| Number built | 8 Prototypes |
| Program cost | US$1.2 billion |
| Unit cost | US$22.6 million US$31.09 million (Naval version) |
The HAL Tejas (Sanskrit: तेजस् "Radiant", Hindi pronunciation: [t̪edʒəs](
listen)) is a lightweight multirole jet fighter being developed by India. It is a tailless, compound delta wing design powered by a single engine. Originally known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)—a designation which continues in popular usage—the aircraft was officially named "Tejas" by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 4 May 2003.
The limited series production of the Tejas commenced in 2007. A two-seat trainer variant is also in development (exited the production line as of November 2008), as is a naval variant capable of operating from the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers. The IAF is reported to have a requirement for 200 single-seat and 20 two-seat conversion trainers, while the Indian Navy may order up to 40 single-seaters to replace its Sea Harrier FRS.51 and Harrier T.60. The LCA naval variant is expected to take to the skies by 2009 Recent developments suggest that the aircraft will be inducted into the Indian Air Force by end of 2010 or early 2011. During its sea level flight trials off Goa during December 2009, Tejas notched a speed of over 1,350 km per hour, thus becoming the first supersonic fighter being manufactured indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
[PTI] A Parliamentary panel on Thursday slammed the DRDO and the IAF for the 27-year delay and the cost overruns in their {ln:hal-light-combat-aircraft-tejas 'Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project}, describing it as “a very sorry state of affairs”.
