Tejas, the name of the first squadron of home-grown Light Combat Air (LCA), was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

The first two Tejas aircrafts were handed over to the IAF. They will make up the 'Flying Daggers' 45, the name of the first the LCA.

The aircraft are produced by State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). 

The aircrafts are performed a sortie during the induction ceremony.

Here are 5 things that you need to know about the Tejas fighter jets:

1. 31 years to develop: The Tejas fighter jets took 31 years to create after it was first concieved. The sanction imposed by the US after India carried out nuclear tests in 1998 further stalled the development of the jet.

2. 6 aircrafts: A total of 6 Tejas aircrafts will be inducted into the IAF squadron by this financial year. Further, eight will be inducted by next financial year, according to BBC report.

3. Fit to fly: It was declared fit to fly in 2011.

4. Weapons: Tejas can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. 

5. Aircraft: Indian defence officials call it the smallest lightweight, single-engine, tactical fighter aircraft in the world, said the report.

Watch Tejas take to the sky in the induction process for IAF:

Live video of the event: