Bangalore. India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) should get the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) soon following the successful flight test of the 8th aircraft in the Limited Series Production (LSP).
Air Cmde K.A. Muthana, VSM, Programme Director (Flight Test) piloted the aircraft on its maiden flight on March 31 at supersonic speeds and a 20 degree angle of attack, which is the current maximum limit cleared by its design.
Designed by DRDO’s Aeronautics Development Agency (ADA), the tail-less delta-wing aircraft was accepted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in March 2011 although its IOC has been delayed for long. Recently, Defence Minister AK Antony also expressed displeasure over the delay.
The aircraft is built by HAL. After the successful flight test of the 8th aircraft, HAL Chairman Dr. RK Tyagi said that “the performance of the aircraft was flawless.”
An HAL statement said that the aircraft underwent a series of rigorous checks by the certifying and inspecting agencies during the last fortnight with a few taxi checks to assess its performance.
“The last aircraft in the Limited Series Production programme of LCA-Tejas (LSP-08) took off on its maiden flight here today from HAL airport. The aircraft was flown covering a flight envelope at supersonic speeds and at an angle of attack of 20 degrees which is the current maximum limit cleared by design. With this, the Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) for the aircraft can be expected soon.”
It should take a year or so to get the Final Operational Clearance (FOC), after which the aircraft would be inducted into IAF squadrons.
“The aircraft with a build standard akin to the Initial Operation Clearance standard underwent series of rigorous checks by the certifying and inspecting agencies during the last fortnight with a few taxi checks to assess the aircraft performance. The flight clearance by the certifying agencies was accorded today (March 31) after ensuring that all the aircraft systems were functioning satisfactorily on ground.
“Till now aircraft normally undergo high speed taxy trials prior to the first flight. However, with the confidence gained by the flight crew and the certifying agencies during the build and ground checks a decision was taken to proceed with first flight without going through a separate high speed taxi trial."
The latest LCA carried several modifications relating to fuel, environment condition, electrical and avionics based on the feedback from the 7 earlier aircraft. The modified systems performed well.
Described as a Mig 21++ by former Chief of Air Staff PV Naik, the LCA uses a lot of light composite materials. Its initial lot is being powered by GE 404 engines, but under an agreement signed last year, HAL is acquiring 99 GE 414 engines – the same which power the US Navy’s Boeing Super Hornet F/A 18 aircraft – for the later versions.
IAF and the Indian Navy have a projected requirement of about 200 LCAs, officially designated Tejas. The long delay in the programme however may change the requirements as technology now changes by the day and it would be difficult to incorporate the emerging, newer hi- tech features.
However, Tejas indeed has several modular features. Besides the engine from the US, there are some 360 Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), out of which 168 are imported mostly from France, Germany, UK and Israel with the rest made in India.
According to DRDO Chief, Dr VK Saraswat, the effort is to indigenise wherever possible and the Indian industry, both public and private sector, is being encouraged to come up with exacting solutions, or drop-in replacements, to meet the requirements.
The indigenisation will be good for the country on the one hand and help boost the economy through the developing defence-industrial sector, he told India Strategic in an interview.
IAF will deploy the aircraft in southern India.
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