Indian Air Force to Purchase 40 Home Made LCA
Posted 2-12-2005 at 03:49 PM
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will sign a contract to buy 20 indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), with an option to buy 20 more at an estimated cost of Rs.40 billion ($914 million).
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi told reporters on Thursday 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 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 HAL, which includes two for technology development (TD-1&II) and one prototype vehicle (PV1).
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will sign a contract to buy 20 indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), with an option to buy 20 more at an estimated cost of Rs.40 billion ($914 million).
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi told reporters on Thursday 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 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 HAL, which includes two for technology development (TD-1&II) and one prototype vehicle (PV1).
