DRDO Statement: Tejas Limited Series Production – 7 (LSP-7) aircraft took-off for its maiden flight
from HAL airport at 4:27 pm on 9th March 2012. This test flight is significant
for the program, as LSP -7 build-standard is close to the initial operational
clearance (IOC) standard. Accordingly LSP -7 aircraft, along with LSP – 8 will
be offered to the Indian Air Force for user evaluation trials (UET). The flight
was also significant considering the fact that for the first time “Production Test
Schedule” was used for the first flight of an LSP aircraft in this program. This is
also the first time that maiden flight of the aircraft was not accompanied by the
customary ‘chase’ aircraft, which is an indicator to the level of confidence in the
machine.
from HAL airport at 4:27 pm on 9th March 2012. This test flight is significant
for the program, as LSP -7 build-standard is close to the initial operational
clearance (IOC) standard. Accordingly LSP -7 aircraft, along with LSP – 8 will
be offered to the Indian Air Force for user evaluation trials (UET). The flight
was also significant considering the fact that for the first time “Production Test
Schedule” was used for the first flight of an LSP aircraft in this program. This is
also the first time that maiden flight of the aircraft was not accompanied by the
customary ‘chase’ aircraft, which is an indicator to the level of confidence in the
machine.
The flight lasted 28 minutes with Gp Capt KK Venugopal at the controls
in the cockpit and Wg Cdr Kabadwal of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC)
as Test Director in the telemetry. During the test flight, performance of the
aircraft systems including Multi-mode Radar (MMR), Helmet Mounted Display
System (HMDS), Auto-pilot and Instrument Landing System (ILS) was
satisfactory, providing a moment of pride for all the stake holders which include
ADA, HAL, IAF, CEMILAC, DG AQA, ADE and NAL among others.
Dudes, look closely – the helmet looks diff as well. I think its the Israeli DASH or the TopOwl.
I heard that IN is using TopOwl for its MiG29K and IAF will use it for the M2K-5s.
Which one is the Tejas using?
Enlighten me!
My2cents from Oz.
Looks like they extended the back end.
Hello,
Would you be able to find out what the bump where the intake used to be at the base of leading edge of the tail is?
Thank you.
Anon 9:21PM: Yes i also think they have extended the "back end". Maybe they are incorporating these changes as part of the structural changes suggested by the IAF for the Mk2 version and also in keeping in mind the new GE-414 engine that would have to be integrated with this beauty..
Thank you Shiv for posting Clearer Picture without any water mark….
Great job guys! you make us feel proud!!! on the lighter side – why isn't it painted? 🙂
Heartiest Congratulations ADA-Hal! Next with Naval Variant flight,the Tejas stable will carry foward the successful MK2 with the final culmination of AMCA. Salute the Young men and women who had played a stellar roles in this national mission. Good luck and God speed !!!!!!!
Excellent news, we can cancel the Rafale now and build LCA instead.
hal should be closed
Congratulations.
The whole nation was waiting or this.
Please show us photographs of the manufacturing facility at HAL for Tejas. It is now HAL's responsibility to make the aircraft a commercial success.
Also, please inform the whole nation a detaild status of LCA Mark II.
Bird looks Awesome. Great work HAL!
A long wait but nevertheless.. Superb! Somehow LSP-7 looks more mature. I was fortunate enough to witness the take off of LSP-7 and later the landing of Il-76 at HAL Airport yesterday, but unfortunate not to carry the camera!
Congratulations to DRDO ! This is great news.
LSP-7 will be a valuable addition to the IAF. It's pilots shall finally get a modern fighter jet and move away from those crash-prone MiGs.
Great day for IAF.
Bird looks sexy in yellow – greay color!!!
It's starting to look a little bit like a real fighter now. But there are still ways to go.
Anybody know if the Tejas has conducted the wake penetration tests the IAF asked for ?
Also, can anybody explain why the Naval Tejas design modifications, apart from the strengthened landing gear not be included in the Air Force version ?? LEVCONs, better low speed handling and better visibility -all seem like good things to have regardless of version!
Also, is there any mention of when the LCA MK-2 will finally be built ?
Shiv, can you point out the structural changes in the airframe of LSP 7? To me both LSP 4 and LSP 7 looks the same.
Hi Shiv!
How close is this bird close to final configuration. What were the changes incorporated on this bird compared to the other LSPs. Pls share the details..
Thanks
-Avi
Shiv… can you put the list of updates in LSP-7 both visible and invisible.
again some more delays are expected as usual.
any news of mirage squadrons which are grounded.
Hope they have the improvments ready for the MK 2 as we will be requiring atleast 500 Aircrafts if not more that includes the navy about 100 or so have my fingers crossed. Lets hope for the best
abhiman,this is not for iaf .
lsp-7 is for navy carriers IAC-1 and other maybe.
What engine did they use.ge-414 ?
shiv can you upload the vedio of lsp 7
thanks for drdo update on the lsp.
I would love to know more of the HMDS system. are we using 2032 Israeli radar or hybrid radar?
i do see lca up in 2015 which is quite good.
there is some news of Naval LCA Contract, havnt been able to find out what it is.
???? ?????? ????? ??. ??? ?? ???????.
@anon 8:54: Your Internet @ ur trap shd be closed..
This is a project mainly for learning purposes. So lets move on to AMCA as quickly as possible!
All credit goes to the scientists of this nation. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
It looks awful. Congrats to all concerned.
With this flight, its high time now that the IAF starts to phase out those old, ageing MiG-21s.
How long will our national security rest on those MiG-21s, that rest in museums elsewhere in the world ?
There is absolutely no need for the IAF to lay out punishingly stringent norms to induct the Tejas Mk.1s, while still flying those tottering MiG-21s that can crash anytime.
Look at the F-16 : The USAF inducted it in just 3 years after its debut flight, warts and all simply because it was phasing out its old F-86 Sabres and the like.
Later on, the F-16 underwent incremental upgrades as and when demanded by the USAF.
So why does the IAF have to be so belligerent ? On the one hand, it has MiG-21s on their last legs, crying to be retired. A wife, a parent must pray each day before their son sorties in a MiG-21.
But on the other hand, the IAF has an ultra-modern 4+ generation Tejas Mk.1, that is still undergoing test after test, after test after test! Simply because some babu in the IAF has laid out utopian standards on the Tejas Mk.1 that DRDO is striving hard to be met.
I think it is high time the IAF stepped down from its high horse of stringency, for the sake of pragmatism and practicality. It must immediately grant IoC status to the Tejas and order a production NOW. ASAP.
Thanks.
SP timeline… please…
Shiv what happened to nlca when it flies hstt r over at 9th as per ananth but still no first flight and please post video of lsp7
The "TopSight" system is used in the Mig-29K, not "TopOwl" which is for helicopters.
Good news for the Indian Airforce For now they know that sooner or later they would get the Tejas which would in the league of the Gripen and the Mirage 2000-5. It is already quite late the MMRCA has to be procured though at a slower rate. The remaining Su-30mkis, 126 Rafales and 140 odd Tejas fighters would in due course of time replace the old Mig21s(13sqdns.) and the Mig27s(04sqdns.)totalling 300-340 aircraft.
Shiv – Any reasons why BR not opening? Cant access the webpage -Cheers
How would Shiv know why BR page is not opening? #%%^{*
After 3 decades we are still rolling out Lsp's. Pathetic! Embraer used to be tha HAL of Brazil. Look where it is now. Another third world country with a world class aerospace industry. You know why? They removed govt from the equation and privatized it. Nothing like giving quarterly phone calls to analysts to scare the living Sh*# out of the top echelon.
But sarkari it is. Vision and accountability people, stop accepting 1 prototype per year and constantly delaying deadlines. Even the IAF and Navy service chiefs have had enough but we here start jumping when one new plane flies in a year..if that. >*%#%
@abhiman 12:32pm – IAF hav already granted IOC for HAL tejas & initial serial production of 40 tejas mk-1
is also started.
The order is at 40 bcoz IAF is waiting far much improved tejas mk-2 prototypes with GE F414 INS6 engine on which the HAL is currently working.
probably the order for tejas mk-2 must be around 180+ which IAF hav Commited to buy.
HAL – Please get some results on the NAVY version too. Thanks good work on LSP7. Please do not ignore the Navy.
–>Aravind, it is well known that 40 Tejas Mk.1s have been ordered.
But they should've begun induction in 2010-11 itself. But the IAF is simply making HAL do every tiny test before granting IoC and induction.
IAF's own history shows it bought MiGs and Mirages when they were relatively new for their time & age. IAF never really evaluated them; but purchased them in a knee-jerk response after reading about Pakistan's purchases in the newspaper.
You really think MiG-29, Mirage-2000 etc. were thoroughly tested by the IAF before signing the dotted line ? No. They were just bought as-is and begun flying.
So why does IAF have to insist upon Tejas Mk.1 to undergo a marathon of tests ? Why didn't IAF start inducting it even after it got IoC in Jan 2011 ?
The Tejas LSPs (any version) are any day better than the best MiG-21 out there. Still, MiG-21 is continued to be flown by IAF, but Tejas Mk.1 is asked to go the most punishing tests. Tomorrow IAF in all its wisdom, may demand Tejas must be a convertible submarine !! Otherwise, no IoC and no induction !!
WHERE IS LSP 6.I HEARD IT WAS A TEST PLATFORM TO INCREASE AOA AND RAM COATINGS .IS IT FLYING????
Has there been a slight change to the Delta wing Config. Close-up Wing pics of LCA standing look a bit different?
Tejas is an Indian effort a great job done by our people. it does have some foreign obtained technology from people like the Italians etc.
Good….India can now go to war with B'desh and Bhutan
Congratulations to ADA , HAL. Now the dtractors of the LCA project will be licensed.
Did they manage to build the Kaveri GTE or are they still using the GE stuff?? Even not good in reverse engineering!
I do not if you guys know it, DRDO once did try to recruit Indian engineers from a global powerplant manufacturer in Europe through the Indian consulates.
Hearing the payscale, majority of us, however, ran away!
@Anon 6:04
Payscale of a soldier is less but the respect he commands among Indian citizens is immeasurable. In short Pay & Pride are not related. You should be a pass out from one of those so called prestigious (in paper, starting with IIx) institutions. It is better where you're as greed can never be full filled.