New Delhi, July 3
Country’s only indigenously designed multi-role light combat aircraft (LCA) is all set to shatter the sound barrier in its next test flight due to take place in the coming few days.
The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is working on the final details to push the LCA through the sound barrier which would mean a major achievement for the aircraft. It has already achieved the speed of 0.8 mach and an altitude of 12 km.
The DRDO is looking at making the LCA as the most advanced multi-role aircraft by the time the first of the aircraft is inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by 2007.
Christened as “Tejas” by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in May, the technology demonstrators of the LCA have already had a number of test flights and one of them was also put on view at the international air show organised at Bangalore earlier this year. In its pure white colour “Tejas” was impressive in its manoeuvres.
A review meeting of the LCA project was also held earlier in June at the Aeronautical Development Agency in Bangalore to chalk out a strategy for the sound barrier test flights.
The IAF has placed an order with the HAL to produce eight LCAs for induction in its fleet by 2007. The DRDO has promised that by 2015 as many as four squadrons of “Tejas” would be ready for induction into the IAF.
Although the LCA is at least a decade behind schedule, but by the end of this year, it is expected to complete about 200 hours of test-flying. The target was to complete 2000 hours of test-flying by this year and incidentally, it was to replace the overworked MiG-21s in the early 90’s.
In an effort to accelerate the pace of development and flight trials, five more prototypes are to be built. As of now the second technology demonstrator has had a total of 20 sorties and the equipping of the third aircraft, reduced weight standard LCA prototype vehicle (PV1), is also in progress.
The preparation of LCA(PV1) for system integration checks is also in progress. The fourth aircraft LCA(PV2), is the production standard and its equipping is in progress. Design activities on LCA Trainer Variant LCA(PV5), ensuring commonality with LCA (Navy), has been initiated.
Kaveri engine for the LCA is undergoing development trials. As on date two Kabini prototypes (C1,C2) and five Kaveri engine prototypes (K1, K2, K3, K4 and K5) have been built for engine testing apart from various modules and components manufactured for their testing in the rigs to assess their aerodynamic performance and structural integrity.
Kaveri engine has accumulated 1200 hours of development tests. K5 engine with the modified compressor has completed 50 hours of ground testing in the test bed prior to dispatch to the CIAS, Russia, for exploratory altitude testing (EAT) during February, 2003.
The single-seat combat aircraft is capable of carrying four tonnes of assorted weapons, including air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface munitions, besides drop tanks below its wings and fuselage.
