New Delhi: India on Thursday began weaponisation of fighter aircraft with the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' successfully test-firing a close combat air-to-air missile off the Goa coast for the first time.
The LCA fired a Russian R-73 air-to-air missile during a technology demonstrator flight. It was the most significant milestone for the 'Tejas' programme.
The historic flight was done on Tejas prototype vehicle PV-1, piloted by the Chief Test Pilot of the National Flight Test Centre ADA, Gp Capt N Harish. The test-firing was done at 7 km altitude and 0.6 Mach.
The flight test was conducted from the mobile telemetry vehicle where all the aircraft, systems and weapon data were closely monitored.
Quick analysis of the data revealed that it was a ‘text book’ launch where the systems performance matched the predictions well.
The historic event marks the beginning of weaponisation, which is the focus of the current initial operational clearance (IOC) phase of the programme, he said.
A Defence Ministry official said the much-delayed indigenous fighter is now almost ready for flight certification. The initial operational configuration for the fighter is expected between 2011-12 and the aircraft will be fully operational by 2013.
Air-to-air missile integration and testing, especially on a fly-by-wire aircraft, is a very complex task involving interfaces with aerodynamics, engine air intake, control laws, flight control system, avionics system, electrical and other general system of aircraft.
The Indian Air Force has already placed orders for 20 LCAs with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with a provision for buying another 20 in the same contract.
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