New Delhi, Aug 6: The indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), named 'Tejas' by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, has ''high export potential'', the government claimed in the Rajya Sabha today. According to Defence Minister George Fernandes, the technology demonstrators (TD1 and TD2) of the LCA had so far completed 93 flights adding a duration of 47 hours, including a supersonic flight on August 1. The minister said that infrastructural facilities had been set up at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for producing a limited number of the aircraft. This would, however, be increased in due course of time to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force. Initial operational clearance of 'Tejas' was planned by 2006-07 and final operational clearance by 2008-09, the minister added.
Bureau Report