The Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday handed over the 'Release to Service Certificate' of the country’s own Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, to the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne at a function in Bangalore.
Described as Initial Operational Clearance-II of Tejas, the LCA is designed to ultimately replace the MiG 21 fleet of IAF.
The timing of IOC-II for LCA coincides with the iconic Mig 21 FL fighter flying into IAF’s history just a week ago.
Visibly happy at today's event, Antony said, during the last three years, the capabilities of the aircraft have been improved significantly.
"In recognition of the enhanced capabilities, IAF has decided to grant the aircraft a higher status, namely, the Initial Operational Clearance for induction into the Service," he said.
Antony candidly confessed that he had his share of anxieties regarding the future of LCA when he had taken over as the Defence Minister in 2006 but today "we are putting behind the moments of self-doubt, frustrations and setbacks which we as a nation have gone through in the last 30 years".