Light Combat Aircraft (LCA, Tejas), developed in India, is the smallest lightweight supersonic fighter in the world. LCA (Tejas) aircraft, after successful development, are produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and are in operational service in two squadrons of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Thanks to the LCA program, India has developed not only the fourth-generation, cutting-edge, core aircraft technologies but also state-of-the-art enabling technologies, contemporary test facilities, and capabilities to engineer complex systems with assured reliability and safety. The article provides a bird's eye view of alternate configurations studied, technologies developed, organizations involved, and strategies adopted, not only to create knowledge but also to integrate, validate and transfer the knowledge for production and operations. The article also covers the support system created for innovation leading to the operationalization of the aircraft.
