(a) the present status of the development of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’;
(b) the reasons for inordinate delay alongwith the amount spent so far on the LCA Project
and the additional amount, if any, proposed for the same;
(c) the measures being taken to check further delay in the project; and
(d) the time by which the aircraft is likely to be inducted in the Air Force?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE(SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) & (b): A contract for the procurement of 20 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in
Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration was signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 31st March 2006. The total contract cost is Rs.2701.70 Crore. Delay in LCA
production is primarily due to refinements carried out in the development phase. A total of
Rs.1712.11 Crore has been paid to HAL till 31st December 2009 for the LCA Programme. There was
a delay in the development of LCA due to certain technical complexities and denial of critical
technologies. Rs.3301.78 Crore was sanctioned for the development of LCA, which includes
manufacture of 8 Nos of Limited Series Production aircraft. Additional Rs.2475.78 Crore has
been approved by the Government for LCA Phase-II programme.
(c) A high level review is being conducted by the Chief of Air Staff once in every quarter
and by the Dy Chief of Air Staff once in every month.
(d) LCA is likely to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by March 2011.