The first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – Tejas squadron has been formed on 1st July, 2016 with two LCA Initial Operation Configuration (IOC) Series Production Aircraft. Further, 18 more aircraft in IOC standard are planned for induction by 2018-19. This would be followed by 20 more aircraft in Final Operation Configuration (FOC) standard, which are planned for induction from year 2019.
The total expenditure incurred on development of Tejas LCA Mk-I aircraft, as on 30th June, 2016 is Rs.8042.46 crores. The total initial sanctioned cost for Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) for LCA was Rs.5489.78 crores which was later escalated to Rs.9121.07 crores.
The indigenous content of LCA is about 70% and import content is about 30%. The aircraft is indigenously designed and developed and the technology for production of this aircraft is available in the country.
LCA Tejas shall be an important part of IAF’s fighter aircraft inventory filling up the lightweight category of fighters and shall be effectively used for air defence and for battlefield air strikes.