SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The government has initiated the process for the Cabinet Committee on Security’s (CCS) approval for a grant of 10000 Cr for the development of the Tejas MkII program as per the latest media reports that are likely to be cleared in the coming weeks. Tejas MkII that started of as re-engineering program has now matured into full-fledged Medium Class fighter jet program that has All Up Weight (AUW) of 17.5-Tons.
Last year Indian Air Force accepted the comprehensive design review (CDR) report of the Tejas MkII program after which the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) authorized Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to commence metal cutting exercises and procurement of equipment and subsystems for the assembly of the first aircraft from its vendors from the Phase-III funding that was marked for the Tejas Mk-I program.
IAF has committed to procure 6 Squadrons of Tejas MkII when it is ready for production in 2028-29 and will be replacing initially 3 squadrons of Mig-29UPG, later Jaguar and Mirage-2000 type by 2040. HAL Chief had confirmed that the first Tejas Tejas MkII aircraft that was initially planned for rollout in August this year has been postponed to the end of this year but the program is still ahead of its schedule and a first flight might happen by end of 2023.
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