Indian Air Force's LCA Tejas, the 'Make-in-India' 4.5-gen fighter jet: IN PICS

The Tejas LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) is the India's second indigenous fighter jet after HAL HF-24 Marut, both made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in the country. The Tejas LCA has been inducted into the force by IAF. 

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was initiated to replace the ageing Soviet-made MiG-21 fighter jets. In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas" by the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The HAL Tejas LCA is a 4.5 generation fighter jet and also the smallest and lightest in its class of contemporary supersonic combat aircraft. It's among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. 

The Tejas currently has three production models – Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A and trainer variant. The Indian Air Force has placed an order for 40 Tejas Mark 1 and 83 Tejas Mark 1A, including Tejas trainer aircraft. 

The HAL is working on Tejas Mark 2 and it is expected to be ready for series production by 2026–27. The IAF is expected to procure 250 Mark 2 aircrafts, once they are ready for operational role. 

The LCA Tejas gets a delta wing architecture offering "relaxed static stability" for enhanced manoeuvrability and agility. It is powered by a single uprated General Electric F404-GE-IN20 engine, although HAL initially planned to power the jet using 'Kaveri' indigenous engine. 

The Indian Air Force stated the first Tejas squadron - No. 45 Squadron IAF (Flying Daggers) in July 2016 based at Sulur Air Force Station in Coimbatore. The second Tejas Mark 1 squadron, Squadron 18, was formed at Sulur on 27 May 2020. 

Here are the tech specs and operational capabilities of the LCA Tejas. In 2019, six Tejas fighter jets participated in the Vayu Shakti air exercise. 

Apart from the Indian Air Force, HAL has been working to export the aircraft to several friendly countries including Bahrain, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Argentina, UAE and Australia. The Tejas Mark 1 also made its international debut on 21 January 2016, at the fourth Bahrain International Airshow.

Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh taking a sortie in the IAF LCA Tejas fighter jet.