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. There was a gap of two generations of technologies at that time. The Tejas team consisted of ADA, HAL, DRDO, IAF, CEMILAC, DGAQA, PSUs, Private Industries and Academic Institutions.
The challenge was taken up and the first Technology Demonstrator encompassing fourth generation fighter aircraft technologies was flown on January 4, 2001. By March 2004, with one more Technology Demonstrator and one Prototype vehicle, all the technologies of the fourth generation relevant to the Tejas had been demonstrated successfully, completing the technology demonstration phase.
The next phase of the Programme got initiated in November 2001 with the Government funding for not only building the prototypes for the Fighter and Trainer but also for establishing the ‘Limited Series Production (LSP) line1 and delivery of eight Limited Series Production aircraft.
Presently, the Programme has reached the stage of demonstrating the integration of all the required sensors and weapons as well as demonstration of safe and reliable flying within the specified flight envelope. The above has been demonstrated through about 1500 test flights using about 11 aircraft flown by over 15 test pilots of Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.