The first mass-produced two-seater training LCA Tejas takes off

Fulfilling an important milestone in the LCA Tejas program, the first series-produced tandem seat training aircraft made its maiden flight today.

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Our thanks to ADA, DGAQA, CEMILAC and others involved in this success. @DefProdnIndia @SpokespersonMoD @gopalsutar pic.twitter.com/m2iiwDFmxr

— HAL (@HALHQBLR) April 5, 2023

The aircraft registered LT 5201 took off for the first time today from the airport that the state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has in the city of Bangalore, where it successfully completed a 35-minute sortie, during which the expected flight and performance characteristics were verified.

See also: HAL unveiled HLFT-42, an advanced supersonic trainer/lightweight fighter

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has a firm order for 18 two-seat advanced trainer LCA Tejas like this one. According to the Indian defense site IADN, LT 5201 is the first of three aircraft in initial operational configuration (IOC), to be followed by four more in full operational configuration (FOC), ending this first contract with another 10 Mk-1A two-seaters.

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1st #HAL LCA #Tejas Twin seater from the production batch with serial number LT-5201

A total of 4(IOC 2 Batch) + 4(FOC batch) + 10(Mk1A batch) = 18 units are on order.

All 18 units will be of same standards.

?: Fighterpiloting#IADN pic.twitter.com/0ab7lp1cwr

— News IADN (@NewsIADN) February 18, 2023

The development and production of the two-seater Tejas trainers was contemplated within the contract for 83 LCAs Tejas Mk-1A  signed with HAL in January 2021.