FIRST IMAGES: LCA Tejas Weapon Trials At Jamnagar

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In its path towards Initial Operational Capability (IOC), a pair of LCA Tejas fighters — Prototype Vehicle-3 (PV3) and Limited Series Production-2 (LSP-2) — were recently deployed to Jamnagar for a period of five weeks for testing by the South Western Air Command (SWAC). The trials entailed flight envelope expansion in various stores configurations, as well as air-to-ground weapon delivery trials in different modes of weapon delivery. According to a DRDO statement, “The aircraft has successfully demonstrated its ability to tackle targets which are designated visually by the pilot. After this phase, the Tejas will be able to take on targets whose parameters in terms of location and altitude are fed to the on-board navigation and attack computer. The target does not even have to be visible to the pilot at the point of delivery.”

The flight trials were conducted by the flight test crew of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC), who deployed test pilots, flight test engineers and instrumentation specialists for the task. This is the first time that the Tejas aircraft have operated away from home base for so long. The support provided by the personnel of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) the manufacturers of the aircraft, ensured that this indigenous fighter aircraft was able to take to the skies regularly. The Tejas team included specialist groups from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Central for Military Air Worthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and DG-AQA.

The Indian Air Force teams working at ADA and the Air Force base where the trials were conducted have contributed significantly for the success of the trial. The excellent weather conditions prevailing in the Saurashtra sector and the enthusiastic support of the Indian Air Force ensured the successful completion of the current phase of flight trials. With this milestone achieved, the entire Tejas team is upbeat and the Tejas is one step closer to induction into the Indian Air Force.

Text Abridged from DRDO Statement
Photos Courtesy DRDO

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24 thoughts on “FIRST IMAGES: LCA Tejas Weapon Trials At Jamnagar”

  3. Anonymous

    It is nice that HAL and DRDO idiots show the faces of people involved. Good intelligence for ISI and CIA on whom to kill in 'armed robbery' and such.

    Reply
  6. Simranjit Singh

    Hi Shiv,

    So weapon trials are going good.
    This is the best news that I have heard in weeks. A very very very big Thank You.

    Is there anything new about PV5 and radar integration.

    Reply
  8. Anonymous

    hey shiv, can u please update us about the latest on nag, akash & the BMD that india is developing. Especially the BMD. when again the AAD & the PAD will be test fired & what's the status of them???

    Reply
  9. the terminator

    Hi Shiv,
    Thank you for the very good news. Hope ADA, HAL and the other agencies involved in the LCA would bring about the successful completion of the weapons trials.

    Waiting for the day LCA clears all parameters and gets certified as air worthy so it can be inducted into the IAF and shut up all the naysayers for good.

    Could you come up with a comprehensive and up-to-date information of the LCA and its naval variant?

    Reply
  11. AK

    Finally this baby is about to rock and roll. C'mon ADA, HAL, DRDO and IAF lets get this thing in full shape. India has been waiting for this moment for a decade. Go Tejas!

    Reply
  14. Sajay

    Folks, I think the IAF is making a big mistake waiting for ADA/HAL to finish-up this jet before finally inducting it into the fleet. I feel that this jet can be inducted into service as it is, EVEN with its current limitations. Here's how:

    LIMITATION 1: Inadequate Power to Weight ratio (PWR)/Unsatisfactory Angle of Attack (AOA).

    SOLUTION: Both the above limitations become particularly pronounced in Air to Ground attack
    profiles and tight turning dogfights. So my suggestion to the IAF is to keep the LCA MK I away from such mission profiles. In other words, that the LCA MK I be inducted into the IAF strictly in the air-to-air role as a 'slash and dash'/'Hit and run' interceptor/escort fighter. More detailed discussion below…

    LIMITATION 2: Lack of Radar

    SOLUTION: A little bit of history here – In the Israeli Air Force, during the '70s and 80s as the F-4s were being inducted in larger numbers, to cut costs the ISAF decided to do remove the radars of their Mirage III fighters and replace it with weights in the nose cone. Their logic for doing this was that a) they had a good Ground radar control network which
    was capable of providing superior 'Ground Controlled Intercepts' and the Mirage was
    basically a good interceptor b) Since the F-4 was much better in the ground attack role as well, there was no need for the Mirages in the A-G role c) Often the F-4s and the Mirages were paired together, wherein the F-4s would act like an AWACS and use its radar to guide the Mirages to aerial targets.

    I feel the LCA MK I can be used in a similar role. So an ideal scenario will be where:
    a) LCA MK Is are inducted into the IAF on an immediate basis to supplement the reduction in squadron numbers. Meanwhile, work can continue on the LCA MK II simultaneously.
    b) LCA MK Is without radars will be cheaper (life cycle costs).
    c) Once the LCA MK IIs are ready for induction, the LCA MK Is can be turned over to the HAL squadron-wise for upgradation to the MK II standard.
    D) The LCA MK Is while in service should train for the interceptor/escort role wherein they should focus on intercepts while being guided by ground radar controllers or through datalinks with SU-30s or the Mirage 2000s.

    Reply
  17. Kartik

    hey I recognise one of the Test pilots, the bald guy in the g-suit. he was the CO of the No. 20 Su-30MKI squadron that took part in the Red Flag exercise in the US, Wing Cmdr George Thomas.

    Reply
  18. Anonymous

    Vicent,

    Then based on ur above comment, by your own touchstone u should never comment on this blog…since u know absolutely nothing….

    btw, sanjay pls. continue to herd the goat vincent..and then we can halaal him later….

    Reply
  20. Anonymous

    Azhar, in about 20 years the Taliban will take over your country and they'll be using your precious F-16s & JF-17s as bullock carts to take children to terrorist training camps. For countering Taliban crap a 3rd generation vintage shit is enough.

    Besides, we earn billions every year so we can afford to spend a few millions on anything we want. You Porki crap who are so dependent on 'Bheek' from America & China won't understand.

    I guess the 'Made in China' toxic chaddi you are wearing must be causing an itch in your B***s that's why you are making such frustrated comments. So take a break from posting comments on this Blog and go scratch your b***s first.

    Reply
  21. Anonymous

    Azhar,

    Just coz the chaddi was gifted by china doesn't mean u have to wear it….

    u can take it off and wrap it around the tires of the made in china (but branded in pakistan) jf-17…..and suck it!

    Reply
  22. Anonymous

    Dear Folks ,

    Can someone tell me whether this plane can grapple with J17 or J10 in a full bloooded turning dogfight. Is so then why are we not inducting the Air Defense Variant ?
    The strike version can come later.

    Reply
  24. nat

    Sir what is the latest on the LCA.. why cant the HAL have a daily update on the site..infact they have no mention of LCA on their website.

    Reply

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