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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over the first two indigenously designed and manufactured light combat aircrafts to the Indian Air Force in 2016, What is the name of these new combat aircrafts?
Explanation
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first two indigenously designed and manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to the Indian Air Force on July 1, 2016 [1]. These aircraft were named 'Tejas', a Sanskrit word meaning 'radiance' [1]. The induction of these two jets marked the formation of the first LCA squadron, known as the 'Flying Daggers' 45, based at Sulur, Tamil Nadu [1]. The Tejas is a 4.5-generation, single-engine, multi-role supersonic fighter featuring a delta-wing configuration. It was developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with HAL to replace the aging MiG-21 fleet [1]. While the HF-24 Marut was India's first indigenous fighter in the 1960s, the Tejas represents the modern milestone of the indigenous LCA program initiated in the 1980s [1].
Sources
- [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36681110