Defence Minister A K Antony awarded Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) to the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of the Indian Air Force by handing over the ?Release to Service Certificate? to the Air Chief Marshal, P V Naik, on Monday.
The Tejas is an indigenous military fighter aircraft designed and developed for Air Force operations.
It is the first time that a native aircraft has acquired such certificate, according to the IAF.
Antony announced that the Government had cleared the next lot of 20 series production aircraft and expressed confidence that there will be a progressive improvement in the standard of build.
?The Tejas programme has been extended to work on the Mark II Variants of Air Force and Navy with more powerful engines,? said the minister.
Antony also added, ?The successful completion of (these) programmes will lead the country towards self reliance with the state-of-the-art technologies in the world. The time has now come for our industries both public and private sector, to manufacture these world class military systems with highest quality and productivity.?
He said, the country will see the first flight of LCA Navy in the coming days.
Tejas Programme had been initiated 28 years ago to develop the technologies of the fourth generation fighter aircraft and demonstrate them on two technology demonstrator aircraft.