Tejas Given Certificate of Release to Service

Certificate of Release to Service was given by Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony to India's first indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA),  Tejas  27 years after it was conceived. The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) is considered as a historic occasion that enabled Tejas to move one step closer towards its induction into the Indian Air Force. The state-of-the-art combat aircraft will enhance national security and the pride of the country.

The LCA project has spent Rs.12000 crore of the Rs.25000 crore sanctioned for developing the Mark II and Naval variant. It has been estimated that India needs approximately 200 Tejas aircraft. The single-engine LCA is estimated to cost between Rs.180-200 crore apiece, with an additional Rs.10 crore for the trainer version with the second seat.