We have no doubts on Tejas’ capabilities: IAF Chief
Bengaluru, Feb 19: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said on Thursday that the Indian Air Force (IAF) would begin the Squadron formation of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas after receiving third series production (SP) variant.
It was for the first time that an IAF Chief spoke comprehensively about the home-grown fighter jet's squadron formation. "We have no doubt about the capability of the aircraft," Raha said.
"The first two series production aircraft (SP-1 and SP-2) have some slight variations and from SP-3 onwards we will have them entering into the Squadron. The first squadron will consist of aircraft from SP-3 to SP-6," the Air Chief said.
As reported by this Correspondent earlier, the IAF will form the No 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers for Tejas. The same squadron last flew the MiG 21 Bison aircraft operating from Naliya in Gujarat.
The Tejas Squadron will be first raised in Bengaluru and later will be positioned at the Sulur Air Force base, near Coimbatore.
Full squadron strength by end of 14 5 year plan
Raha said the IAF would achieve the status of having required total operational squadron of 42 by the end of the 14th Five Year Plan. "We will form the second Tejas squadron when we receive the aircraft from the Final Operational Clearance block," he said.
The
Air
Chief
said
confirmed
that
in
addition
to
the
first
order
of
40
Tejas
aircraft,
80
more
will
be
ordered
(Mark
II
version).
He
said
the
induction
of
the
fifth
generation
fighter
aircraft
(FGFA)
will
play
a
crucial
role
in
achieving
the
full
operational
capabilities.
On
the
sticky
MMRCA
(Rafale)
deal,
the
Chief
said
that
the
Cost
Negotiations
Committee
(CNC)
is
currently
looking
into
the
issues
involved
in
the
deal.
"IAF
needs
MMRACAs
and
I
am
not
saying
it
has
to
be
Rafale.
(The writer is a seasoned aerospace and defence journalist in India. He is the Consultant Editor (Defence) with OneIndia. He tweets @writetake.)
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