Can Produce 24 LCA-Tejas fighter jets per annum: HAL Chief

With an aim to speed up production of Light Combat Aircraft, HAL Chief T Suvarna Raju has asked 3 Main private companies involved in the production of main and rear fuselage along with wings to speed up their production capabilities so that HAL can produce more than 16 planes per year. Raju speaking to media said that HAL can produce 8 more LCA-Tejas per year if outsourced private companies can fast track their delivery schedules of contracted fuselage and wings. IAF has placed orders for 40 LCA-Tejas MK1 and issued Acceptance of Necessity (AON) for 83 LCA-Tejas MK-1A. HAL plans to demonstrate in the next 18 to 24 months Mk-1A configuration and start producing them from 2019 onwards. From 2019 HAL will have Production capacity to manufacture 16 LCA-Tejas per year, but due to freeing of Hawk Production line and availability of additional manpower, HAL Chief said that it can produce 24 LCA-Tejas aircraft per year without adding another additional production line if private companies can improve their delivery schedule for the outsourced fuselage and the wings of LCA-Tejas . HAL plans to deliver Indian Air Force 123 indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets in its fleet by 2024-25 and make use same production line to produce Tejas MK-2 aircraft. idrw.org .Read more at India No 1 Defence News Website http://idrw.org/can-produce-24-lca-tejas-fighter-jets-per-annum-hal-chief/ .