LCA Tejas ​superior to Pakistan's JF-17 built jointly with China – Few more facts

Tejas will feature in combat plan of the Indian Air Force (IAF) next year and will be deployed in forward bases also.

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Bengaluru: The first squadron of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was inducted into the Indian Air Force on Friday.

The LCA squadron induction ceremony was held at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment here in the presence of Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, officials said.

Know more about Tejas:

• Two Tejas aircraft will make up the 'Flying Daggers` 45, the name of the first squadron of the LCA.
• The first LCA squadron will be based in Bengaluru in Karnataka for two years before shifting to Sulur in Tamil Nadu.
• The aircraft was named "Tejas" (meaning radiance in Sanskrit) by Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister.
• Starting with two aircraft, the squadron will get six more jets by 2017 to make it fully operational.
• The LCA is far superior to Pakistan's JF-17 built jointly with China.
• The indigenous fighter jet, which is still to get full operational clearance, is expected to get into the combat role in 2017.
• The first Tejas squadron will consist of 20 aircraft, with four in reserve.
• The second LCA squadron will be raised with improved capabilities, including the critical necessity of missile firing to Beyond Visual Range.
• The IAF plans to induct over 80 aircraft with better specifications, known as Tejas 1A. In the coming years, altogether 120 Tejas jets are to be inducted, replacing MiG-21s. The upgraded version of Tejas will cost between Rs 275 crore and Rs 300 crore.
• The improved Tejas 1A will be far more superior than the first two squadrons since these will have mid-air refueling, modern internal radar warning receiver, and external self-protection jammer pod to enhance survivability and an active electronically scanned array radar.