Progress in Production of Tejas Aircraft – All About Tejas Aircraft

Tejas Aircraft: Two contracts were signed between Indian Air Force (IAF) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., (HAL) for procurement of (i) Twenty Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) Standard Aircraft (16 IOC fighters and four IOC trainers) on thirty-first March 2006 to be completed by Dec 2011 and (ii) 20 Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Standard Aircraft (16 FOC fighters and four FOC trainers) on twenty-third Dec 2010 to be completed by Dec 2016.

At the time of placement of IOC order in 2006, it absolutely was expected that Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), who is the Programme Management Agency can obtain IOC in 2008 after which delivery was planned until Dec 2011. However, IOC has been achieved by ADA in Dec 2013 that too just for sixteen fighter version IOC aircraft, after that solely, HAL might take up production and the first IOC fighter aircraft was delivered in 2016-17.

To date, out of a total of sixteen IOC fighter aircraft, twelve fighters are delivered to IAF. HAL plans to deliver the balance of four IOC fighter aircraft by March 2019. ADA has handed over Drawing Applicability List (DAL) and Equipment Standard of Preparation (SOP) documents, for FOC configuration to HAL on thirty-first Dec 2018 duly cleared by the center of Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) to go ahead with the production of FOC fighter aircraft.

ALSO READ: INDIAN NAVY WEAPONS.

The production of eight trainer aircraft (4 each in IOC &FOC contracts) would be taken up solely after design clearance from ADA. So as to fast track the delivery of LCA Tejas Aircraft, the subsequent steps are taken:-

• For ramping up production capacity from the existing eight aircraft to sixteen aircraft each year, the Government of India (GoI) has sanctioned Rs.1381.04 crore in March 2017.
• Establishment of the second line for structural and equipping activities at the Aircraft Division, HAL.
• Increased the number of jigs for Front Fuselage, Centre Fuselage, Rear Fuselage, Wings sub-assemblies, and established contracts for outsourcing to private partners.
• Reduction in producing cycle time through improved supply chain management, learning, and augmentation of manpower.