Tejas India's Light Combat Aircraft PhotosThe Tejas known as LCA, light combat aircraft, is the second design of India's indigenous fighter aircraft, after the HF-24 Marut of the 1950s. It is the world's smallest, lightweight, multi-role combat aircraft designed to meet the demands of the India Air Force as its frontline multi-mission tactical aircraft seats, during the period 2000 to 2020. Development began in 1983, the basic design was completed in 1990 the first prototype released on November 17, 1995. On January 4, 2001 at 10.18 am on the first prototype of LCA TD-1 (Technology Demonstrator-1), finally made its first flight from Yelahanka AFS.
The configuration is a delta wing without tail or foreplanes planes, and a single vertical fin. The LCA is constructed of aluminum and lithium alloys, carbon fiber composites and titanium. The design incorporates "control-configured vehicle" concepts to improve maneuverability, and quad controls fly-by-wire. Both prototypes are powered by General Electric F404-GE-F2J3 engines, but an indigenous engine, the GTX-35VS Kaveri, is being developed for the production of Tejas.
