Maiden Flight Of Tejas LCA Mk1 FOC

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First flight Indian Air Force Tejas LCA Mk1 FOC

On 16 March 2020, the first Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force) Tejas LCA Mk1 FOC (Final Operational Clearance), serials LA5021 (construction number SP-21), took to the skies from HAL airport in Bengaluru (state of Karnataka) for a 40 minutes flight. It is reported that the maiden flight, piloted by HAL Chief of Test Flying Air Commodore K.A. Muthanna (retd.), proved to be successful.

This is the first FOC variant of the Tejas LCA fighter aircraft produced. Its main features are the air-to-air refuelling probe, fuel system enhancement, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles and an integral GSH 23 mm twin barreled internal gun.

This specific Tejas (serial LA5021) is destined for 18 Squadron 'Flying Bullets'. This unit will start at Sulur Air Force Station (state of Tamil Nadu), where they will work up on the new aircraft type next to the local based 45 Squadron 'Flying Daggers'. After delivery of the final aircraft, LA5036 (c/n SP-36), the squadron will move to Srinagar Air Force Station (union territory of Jammu and Kashmir). The latter is planned for 2022.

The total order for the Tejas LCA Mk1 is 40 aircraft, 32 single seat Tejas LCA Mk1 and 8 dual seat Tejas LCA-T Mk1. According to the Scramble Magazine database the single seat aircraft are serialled LA5001 to LA5016 and LA5021 to LA5036. No dual seat Mk1 has been noted yet, but the eight aircraft perfectly fit the gaps. Dual seat aircraft have a different use of the letters in the Indian Air Force serial system. Scramble Magazine assesses that the serials most probably will be LAT5017 to LAT5020 and LAT5037 to LAT5040. Looking forward to the first sightings.

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