Team Blitz India
THE Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to get the delivery of its first Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in July this year, sources said. The integration trials of the first Tejas Mk-1A are currently being done after its first flight, which was done in March this year.
The entire process is expected to be completed by July and the first delivery would be done at that time, according to defence officials . The first aircraft to be delivered in July would be part of the 83 aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force under a Rs 48,000 crore contract.
The Indian Air Force is also planning to place orders for 97 additional such fighters. The Defence Ministry has already issued a tender to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the acquisition in April. The tender to buy 97 fighters aims to strengthen the IAF, which is currently dealing with a shortage of fighter squadrons. The Tejas Mark-1A is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured modern 4-plus generation fighter aircraft with more than 65 per cent indigenous components.
