Bangalore, November 28
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) successfully carried out the maiden flight test of avionics-upgraded Jaguar aircraft “Darin III” at the HAL airport here today.

“This is a significant moment for the HAL as the upgrade will result in major operational improvement with regard to all-weather air-to-ground, air-to-sea and air-to-air capabilities,” RK Tyagi, chairman, HAL, said after the test.

The upgrade incorporates new state-of-the-art avionics architecture, including mission computer (MC), engine and flight instrument system (EFIS), solid state digital video recording system (SSDVRS), solid state flight data recorder (SSFDR) and additional functions in inertial global positioning system (INGPS), autopilot, radar and RWR (radar warning receiver).

The upgrade also covers navigation, electronic warfare and weapon delivery system with the INGPS using primary and reversionary modes and man-machine interface with two smart multifunction display and head-up display.

The HAL claimed that the upgrade, with re-engining and change over to higher capacity alternators, would make Jaguar one of the most potent aircraft in the arsenal of the IAF with an extended life span.

The total design from system requirement capture, specification preparation, software, hardware, electrical, mechanical design and development has been done indigenously by the HAL at its Mission & Combat

System Research & Design Centre (MCSRDC), while aircraft trial modification has been done by HAL’s Overhaul Division.

The fleet compliance will also be carried out by the HAL. The Software Development Institute of the IAF is the design partner for display software development and Aircraft System Testing Establishment (ASTE) under the leadership of Air Vice-Marshal Raghunath Nambiar has taken care of system specification preparation, data analysis and flight testing along with Flight Test Centre of the HAL.