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Air Force to buy 40 fighter aircraft |
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The Indian Air Force will sign a contract to buy 20 indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., with an option to buy 20 more at an estimated cost of Rs.40 billion ($914 million).
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi told reporters at the ongoing Aero India event that a contract would be signed soon to acquire the multi-role fighter aircraft, christened Tejas, in two phases.
“Each aircraft is estimated to cost about Rs.1 billion ($22.8 million). We hope to receive the first Tejas from the HAL in the next 3-4 years,” Tyagi said.
Powered by GE 404F engines, the LCA is the most advanced combat aircraft currently. Designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), three such aircraft have already been rolled out by the HAL, which includes two for technology development (TD-1&II) and one prototype vehicle (PV1).
“Three versions of the aircraft are undergoing development flight trials. Till date they have collectively flown for 150 hours since the maiden flight in 2001. They have to still fly another 1500 hours for certification and other clearance process,” Tyagi said.
According to the HAL sources, the second prototype vehicle (PV-2) is being weaponised and will be test flown in the next 6-8 months.
“We have completed the algorithms for the weaponisation programme. Mission controls have been taken up,” a top the HAL functionary said.
The single-engine supersonic fighter with fly-by-wire avionics is expected to replace the IAF’s aging MiG fleet from 2010 onwards.
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