New Delhi: The second squadron of the indigenously developed and manufactured fighter aircraft LCA Tejas will be based at the Sulur Air Base in Tamil Nadu on May 27, according to media reports.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria is expected to travel to Sulur for the event. The second squadron is being raised with the first aircraft in the final operational clearance (FOC) configuration and more will be added later, officials said.
The IAF has so far ordered 40 LCAs, split in the initial operational clearance (IOC) version and the more advanced and FOC configuration. The first squadron consists of IOC aircraft.
The second squadron will be raised with the induction of the maiden LCA Tejas aircraft with final operational clearance (FOC) configuration. The airbase is also home to the first LCA Tejas squadron in India which comprises of aircraft in the initial operational clearance (IOC) configuration.
The IAF has ordered 40 LCA Tejas aircraft in its first order to the state-run manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This is expected to be followed with an order for 83 LCA Mk-1A advanced Tejas aircraft in a deal worth Rs 38,000 crore which was approved by the Defence Ministry in March.
The Mk-1A would be the most advanced Tejas jet yet with features like digital radar warning receivers, external self-protection jammer pods, active electronically scanned array radar, advanced beyond-visual-range missiles and better maintainability.
