Big Boost TO LCA Tejas Program For IAF, Private Firm Builds Complex Fuselage Section For FOC Variant

In a major boost to the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program, Indian private defence technology firm Dynamatic Technologies has completed building the front fuselage of the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) version of the Tejas jet, Livefist reports.

This is the first time a complex fuselage section of a supersonic fighter jet has been built by an Indian private sector company, it adds.

This development has led many to demand a greater involvement of private players into the manufacturing process of LCA Tejas jets which are built by state run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

This may potentially lead to a quicker turnaround in building these jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). HAL currently is targeting a supply of 16-20 jets per year.

It is intensely speculated that a $5.2 billion contract for around 83 light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A variant is likely to be awarded to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by December this year.

The Ministry of Defence is also looking at a proposal to manufacture 18 LCA Mark 1 final operational clearance trainer aircraft to keep the Tejas assembly lines up and running till the deal for 83 Mark 1A variants is signed.