On 27 May 2020, the Indian Air Force will start official Ressurection and formation of Second squadron of FOC variant of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
The FOC variant Light Combat Aircraft will be going to inducted into Squadron- No 18 named as Flying Bullets.The Squadron was earlier resurrected in April 2020, at Sulur, Tamil Nadu.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will operationalise No. 18 Squadron ‘Flying Bullets’ of the Indian Air Force on 27th May at the Sulur airbase. The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC Aircraft and will be the second IAF squadron to fly LCA Tejas.
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No.18 Squadron (Flying Bullets) played a stellar role during 1971 in Indo-Pakistani war also known as Bangladesh Liberation war, and Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was awarded the Param Veer Chakra after the war.
The IAF has so far ordered 40 LCAs, split in the initial operational clearance (IOC) version and the more advanced and FOC configuration. The first squadron is consists of IOC variant and the second squadron will be consisting of FOC and 8 twin seat trainer aircraft.
The march 2020, the defence ministry gave the green light for purchasing additional 83 Tejas MK1A upgraded version Tejas MK1. The deal will be finalized in coming months.
Through LCA India Air Force planning to replace its aeging MIG 21 aircraft.
