Anony
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What does it mean ? We are mass poducing it now ? Or atleast production started . and what what the latest midair refueling pod delay ?
IAF has ordered the first 20 Tejas mk1 of IOC-2 standard. These 20 fighters at the time of induction, will not be able to refuel mid-air, will not be able to fire BVR missiles.
Another 20 Tejas mk1 has also been ordered which will be of FOC standard and will not have any shortcomings. Later the initial 20 Tejas mk1 of IOC-2 standard will be upgraded to FOC standard.
FOC of Tejas mk1 was initially schedule to get completed by Dec'14 but now has been delayed by 3-6 months, it's because initially the Refueling pod and quartz cone ordered to UK based company named 'Cobham PLC' was schedule to be delivered in the month of June, by now these will be delivered in November. Thus 3-6 months of testing will be required thereafter.
But this will not affect Tejas production by HAL, as the first 20 aircraft of IOC-2 standard will be delivered by mid 2016 and only then production of FOC standard Tejas will commence. So, even if instead of Dec'14, Tejas receives it's FOC in June'15, it will not affect it's production.