The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday commemorated the 25th anniversary of the historic first flight of the indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), a milestone that symbolises India’s decades-long pursuit of self-reliance in advanced military aviation.
Marking the occasion, the IAF paid tribute to the institutions and individuals behind the programme. “On the 25th anniversary of Tejas LCA’s historic first flight, #IAF reflects on enduring partnership in building this fighter. Congratulations to ADA’s innovative scientists, HAL’s skilled engineers, brave IAF & IN test pilots/engineers, and all IAF personnel who’ve championed self-reliance. Sky is the limit!” the Air Force said in a post on social media.
The Tejas made its maiden flight on January 4, 2001, when Wing Commander Rajiv Kothiyal piloted the Technology Demonstrator-1 (TD-1) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s airport in Bengaluru. That 18-minute flight marked the transition of the Light Combat Aircraft programme from design and development into the crucial flight-testing phase, setting in motion a journey that would eventually see the aircraft inducted into frontline service.
Conceived in 1983, the LCA programme was launched by the government with the objective of replacing the IAF’s ageing fleet of MiG-21 fighters and building a domestic ecosystem capable of designing, producing and sustaining modern combat aircraft. The programme brought together the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) as the nodal design body, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the principal manufacturer, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a key technology partner, with sustained operational inputs from the IAF.
Over the years, Tejas evolved from a technology demonstrator into a fully operational fighter, overcoming challenges related to aerodynamics, flight control laws, composites, avionics and weapons integration. Its induction into the IAF marked a turning point, not only for the Air Force’s combat capability but also for India’s defence-industrial ambitions.
That momentum has accelerated in recent years. In late 2025, HAL secured a landmark order for 97 additional LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighters in a deal valued at over Rs 62,370 crore, adding to earlier contracts for 83 aircraft. The Mk-1A variant incorporates enhanced avionics, an advanced electronic warfare suite, improved maintainability and higher operational availability, reflecting lessons learnt from earlier versions.
The Tejas programme has also become a vehicle for deeper private sector participation. In May 2025, the first centre fuselage assembly for the Tejas Mk-1A was handed over to HAL by Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies. The handover, witnessed by Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr D. K. Sunil, marked the first time a major LCA sub-assembly was manufactured by a private Indian company, underscoring the growing maturity of the domestic aerospace supply chain.
Weapon and system integration milestones have further strengthened the aircraft’s combat credentials. In March 2025, ADA successfully conducted a test-launch of the indigenous ASTRA Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) from an LCA AF Mk-1 prototype off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. The missile achieved a direct hit on a flying target, with all subsystems performing as per mission parameters. Designed and developed by DRDO, ASTRA is capable of engaging targets at ranges exceeding 100 km and is already inducted into the IAF.
In the same month, DRDO’s Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL) successfully completed high-altitude trials of the Indigenous On-Board Oxygen Generating System-based Integrated Life Support System (ILSS) for Tejas. Tested on the LCA Prototype Vehicle-3, the system met stringent aeromedical standards at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and during high-G manoeuvres, eliminating dependence on traditional liquid oxygen cylinders.
As the Tejas completes 25 years since its first flight, the programme stands as a cornerstone of India’s combat aviation roadmap—bridging past limitations, present capability, and future ambitions for an increasingly self-reliant Indian Air Force.
