Bengaluru: The production of 16th light combat aircraft Tejas was announced by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) and said the customer flights would be completed by 31 March.
The public sector company revealed that it has orders from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for 40 LCAs (16 each in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operation Clearance (FOC) configurations and eight trainers) and the 16th LCA was as per the target till March 31.
According to reports, in 2016, the aircraft was inducted into the IAF squadron Flying Daggers and was given the FOC last month. This signalled its combat readiness.
Addition of key capabilities to the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) aircraft, which in main are Beyond Visual Range Missile capabilities, Air-to-Air Refuelling, Air-to-Ground FOC earmarked weapons and general flight envelope expansion are included in the FOC.
LCA production in five years reached a current production capacity of eight aircraft per annum. The production began in 2014. A second production line had been established at the Aircraft Division. Structural assembly, final assembly and equipping of the aircraft is being carried out.
At the Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace Expo (Lima- 2019) in Malaysia which begins today, two LCAs would be flying and the HAL team would be providing the technical support at the show, said reports.