Bangalore: World's lightest and India developed supersonic fighter Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is battle-ready for testing by its air force pilots three decades after it was conceived, designed and developed with cost overruns and inordinate delays.
"The home-grown aircraft is ready for flight tests by Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots to assess its air prowess and strike power," state-run Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) director P.S. Subramanian told IANS ahead of its initial operational clearance (IOC) Friday here.
Outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne will receive a 500-page `release to service' document the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (Cemilac) has compiled as a proof of the fourth generation fighter's strike capabilities.
"The aircraft has a unique record of being accident or incident-free during its 2,400-odd test flights for over 3,000 hours since its maiden sortie as a technology demonstrator in 2001 and subsequently as eight prototype versions," an upbeat Subramanian claimed.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony, his scientific advisor and state-run Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Director General Avinash Chander and senior officials will watch the fighter's awesome skills, including its daring manoeuvres in battlefield.
