The carrier variant of India’s Tejas fighter made its first Engine Ground Run (EGR) on the September 26 at 1830HRS. It was the programme’s first prototype (NP1) that made the run. The engine ground run successfully checked out aircraft to engine integration and activation of systems including flight control, hydraulics, fuel, electrical and avionics.
According to a DRDO statement issued today, “The aircraft will now go through a phase of refinements based on feedback identified during the course of the build up and also observed during the EGR, followed by a series of final integration checks and taxi trials before its maiden flight shortly.“
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hell yeah!!!! 😀
Oh yes…can't wait to see this bird fly
In the 2nd pic I see a mirage-2000 which has several marks on its airframe like it has been refurbished.
Another main difference is its radar dome, its kind of different…
Wish it a grand success…
u can also see mirage 2000 in second pic
To DRDO, Congrats guys……
and to our little heart Tejas… Dear.. you are beautiful beast. Sooooooo lovely… 🙂
Very nice photos, the first time I notice the flap above the engine air intakes, with a design similar to the PAK-FA… Low speed landing on a carrier is critical.
WoW !
Great to see it coming to reality.
Is it going to be 2 seater
Shiv,can you post more information on the LCA weapons trials that have just concluded. Thnx
Looks sexy and lethal.
I am scared of the word "shortly" especially when it comes from DRDO as it is totally the perspective that matters…Like, yeah it would definitely be "shortly" in comparison to the end of the world or for that matter end of terror infrastructure in pakistan…So we should rather ask the context/perspective of our DRDO men as to what is that they compare "time" with…Nyways glad some news came out. Hoping the "shortly" remains a 'shortly'(i.e.within this year…ok, ok till early 2012…what?!! I cant call it shortly anything more than that!!..) NOM
Can anybody tell me what are those canards like structure .same can be seen on T-50.
Is naval LCA is goin to be 2seater?
The flap like surface above the intake is the LEVCON – leading edge vortex controller.
Thanks for posting the hi-res photos.
Like many have said, she looks sexy and lethal.
What a diwali gift!!!!!
After dropping her nose LCA seems too cute, deadly.
yapeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! here comes little Naval sweetheart LCA Navy.love to see this little sweetheart in action
the sexiest looking LCA, what a looker this one is ! Cannot wait to see the NP-2 single seater !
finally some good news on the LCA front..Shiv, please post some pics from the LCA's trials at Pokhran. would love to see pics and a video of the Tejas dropping LGBs.
@ Naman –
Those are rivets. Nothing to be worried about.
Private sector would have completed the entire LCA project in half of the time, these birds would have been inducted by now. Look what they have done with the LCA Mk I…AF is not ready to accept it and now they have to go for Mk 2.
LCA is just too small for carrier ops. I doubt how much fuel it would carry. Would fly just a couple of hundred kilometers from the ship.
Thank you shiv!Full marks need to go to the vision of then CNS Admiral OS Dawson& Vadm SL Sethi,VCNS,in 1982/83 for funding LCA(N)Project in naval plans documents to the government.They decided to go for this aircraft for the navy rather than imports.The LCA(N)will be capable of air superiority in a radius of around 200nm+ from the CBG in IOR, vectored by P15 / P17 ships.With air to air refuelling expect very much longer radius of operations.The ultimate will be the EW version of this carrier based aircraft carrying air to air missiles for self defense.This aircraft is coming through in the teeth of opposition from governments who want INDIA to be dependant on them for naval aircraft.Full marks to our Navy and DRDO for keeping the vision of autonomy.
Dont u guys think tht two pilots for a light fighter is 'bit' extra?
This Naval Tejas is good. But India should also go for developing next generation STOVL fighter jets like Harriers. It should be noted that these harriers are always game changers.