It is a fact that there has been some delay in completion of project "Development of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas". The aircraft is being manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).The project 'Development of LCA' was sanctioned in August 1983. Project Definition Phase (PDP) of LCA was completed in 1988. In 1990, a decision was taken to undertake LCA development in two phases. In the first phase to build 02 Technology Demonstrators (TDs) along with development of critical technologies including Multi Mode Radar (MMR) and in the second phase to build Prototype Vehicles, integrate weapons, sensors, and flight testing leading to Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC).
Details of Phase-I and Phase-II of LCA development is given below:-
Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) Phase-I of LCA
Date of Sanction : June 1993
Original Date of Completion : June 1998
Actual Date of Completion : March 2004
Overall objectives of Phase-I was achieved with completion of 202 flight tests (123 hrs : 49 min) on 03 LCAs).
Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) Phase-II of LCA
Date of Sanction : November 2001
Original Date of Completion : December 2008
Revised Date of Completion : March 2015
Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) was achieved in January 2011 and Full Operational Clearance is likely to be achieved in December 2014.
The LCA project, which though got delayed initially, is currently progressing on a fast track and is working on aggressive time schedules.
Productionisation of LCA is already going on. First series production aircraft is likely to be ready by the end of 2013. Indian Air Force has already placed order for 20 LCA in IOC configuration and another of 20 LCA in FOC configuration.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Motilal Vora in Rajya Sabha today.