Cobras will transfer to Tejas LCA Mk1A
No.3 fighter squadron Cobras, currently operating the MiG-21Bison at Nal/Bikaner AFS (state of Rajasthan), will transfer to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Tejas LCA Mk1A. The squadron started flying the MiG-21 in April 1972 and converted to the Bison in April 2002.
The Cobras are the second squadron earmarked for operating the Tejas LCA Mk1A. The first squadron to receive the Mk1A will be No.51 Squadron Sword Arms at Srinagar AFS (state of Jammu and Kashmir). This unit temporarily suspended flying operations on 30 June 2022, following the retirement of their MiG-21Bison fighters.
On 13 January 2021, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of the 83 HAL Tejas LCA Mk1A for the air force. The contract, valued at USD 6,4 billion, is for 73 Tejas LCA Mk1A and 10 Tejas LCA-T Mk1A trainer aircraft, and includes also infrastructure development. It is reported that HAL will deliver the first three aircraft in February 2024, followed by 16 aircraft per year for the next five years.
The approval on infrastructure development is to enable the air force to handle repairs or servicing at their base depot so that the turnaround time would get reduced for mission critical systems and would lead to increased availability of aircraft for operational exploitation. This would enable the IAF to sustain the fleet more efficiently and effectively due to availability of repair infrastructure at these respective air bases.
On 30 November 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the purchase of 97 additional Tejas LCA Mk1A fighters.
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Credit image : Defence Matrix