Indian Airforce gets indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas

India's first fighter jet, the Tejas, has been declared fit to fly. Tejas handed over to the Indian Air Force.

NEW DEHLI:
India's first fighter jet, the Tejas, has been declared fit to fly. The Indian defence minister announced in Bangalore that the supersonic jet had won initial operational clearance, reports BBC News.

India's indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas was handed over to the Indian Air Force on Monday for initial operational clearance.

Defence Minister AK Antony handed over the IOC Certificate to Air Chief PV Naik signaling a new phase for Tejas before it will be inducted as a squadron.


The Light Combat Aircraft project was sanctioned for an initial cost of Rs33 billion. However there have been several delays and cost escalation that has pushed the overall cost of the project to around Rs57 billion.

IAF has already placed orders with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 40 aircrafts, which is seen as a replacement for the MIG 21's.The multi-role supersonic aircraft have undergone a series of tests.

Tejas has completed all test points for low level flights, off the coast of Goa. It has also conducted operations in the extreme climate of Leh and operated from an IAF air base in the South Western Air Command.
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