Hindustan Aeronautics carries out first flight of LCA SP-21
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) completed the maiden flight of the first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in Final Operational Clearance standard SP-21 in Bangalore on 17 March.
The aircraft took off from HAL Airport and was airborne for 40 minutes, the company announced in a statement on Twitter.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to procure 140 Tejas LCAs to equip seven squadrons. The service is currently operating 18 of the 123 aircraft it has ordered so far.
Tejas is capable of being refuelled air-to-air and the aircraft is armed with a Derby beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) system.
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