Indian Navy To Get Eight Light Combat Aircraft

India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the limited series production of the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) for the Indian Navy's under-construction indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC). The approval came from the Defence Minister A.K. Antony-headed at its meeting last week, according to news reports in India. The DRDO has been working on the development of the naval version of the LCA and has achieved a milestone after a successful engine run last year. The aircraft is likely to get on with its first flight testing before the end of this year. The 40,000-tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), which is under construction at the Cochin Shipyard, will carry over 30 combat aircraft and helicopters. The Indian Air Force has ordered seven squadrons - about 140 aircraft - of the LCA and its induction is expected to begin next year.