HAL bang target, produces 16th LCA in time: Report

THE Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has produced 16th Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), as per schedule, according a press release issued by the organisation. With the production of the 16th aircraft, the HAL has achieved its target of LCA production set for end of March.
"HAL has produced 16th LCA as per the target till March 31, 2019.  The customer flights are expected to be completed by the end of this month.  HAL has order for 40 LCAs (16 fighters each in IOC and FOC and 8 trainers) from IAF. The aircraft...
was inducted into IAF squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ on July 1, 2016," the Navratna defence PSU said in the statement.
The production of LCA commenced in 2014 with a current production capacity of eight aircraft per annum. A second production line has been established at Aircraft Division (Bangalore Complex), which is carrying out structural assembly, final assembly and equipping of the aircraft, the statement further said.
The customer flights are expected to be completed by the month end also. The HAL has order for 40 LCAs (16 fighters each in IOC and FOC and 8 trainers) from the Indian Air Force (IAF).  The LCA was inducted into the IAF squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ on July 1, 2016.
The production of LCA commenced in 2014 with a current production capacity of eight aircraft per annum. A second production line has been established at Aircraft Division (Bangalore Complex), which is carrying out structural assembly, final assembly and equipping of the aircraft. Recently HAL had received drawings and documents related to FOC with limited clearance for LCA (Tejas) from CEMILAC and ADA. With this HAL can start working towards productionisation of FOC standard fighter aircraft.  The first aircraft in FOC configuration may roll-out by the end of this calendar year.
LCA demonstrated its combat capability in the IAF’s ‘Gagan Shakti’ exercise by firing the Air-to-Air BVR Derby missile. Two LCAs will be flying at the Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace Expo (Lima- 2019) in Malaysia beginning tomorrow. HAL team will be providing the technical support at the show.
The aerospace major, who had taken an overdraft from the bank for paying its employees, had registered a profit of Rs 7,334 crore since 2015-16 to September 2018. On Monday, the competent authority has granted its approval for enhancement of HAL's working capital limit to Rs 7,300 crore from Rs 6,050 crore as sanctioned by SBI and other consortium banks.
HAL spent an average of Rs 358.33 crore every month in 2017-18 and another Rs 1,000 crore on procurement. HAL had 29,035 employees as on March 31, 2018.
From cruise missiles to laser-guided bombs like the ones used the ones used in the Balakot strike against Pakistan and anti-shipping missiles to smart weapons and modern radars and avionic systems, a new aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronaticals Limited promises a lot. The plane, for which design work is completed doubles as a newgeneration fighter trainer.
Recently HAL had received drawings and documents related to FOC with limited clearance for LCA (Tejas) from CEMILAC and ADA. With this HAL can start working towards productionisation of FOC standard fighter aircraft.  The first aircraft in FOC configuration may roll-out by the end of this calendar year. LCA demonstrated its combat capability in the IAF’s ‘Gagan Shakti’ exercise by firing the Air-to-Air BVR Derby missile. Two LCAs will be flying at the Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace Expo (Lima- 2019) in Malaysia beginning tomorrow. HAL team will be providing the technical support at the show.
There are nine Central Public Sector Undertakings under the administrative control of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the largest defence PSU under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.