ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[SHASH2K2]

After LSP-3's first flight, when it was reported that LSP-4 will follow in a month and half i had little to believe but now i can say ADA has finally grown up to a level as far as LCA is concerned to meet schedules.

Kudos to ADA and DRDO....

=xy wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

 

[plugwater]

First Flight Of LCA Tejas LSP-4, Final Config Aircraft!

The first flight of Tejas Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft, LSP-4 took place at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore airport, today. The aircraft took off at 1110 hrs and landed forty minutes later. In the sortie, the Test Pilot, Gp Capt Suneet Krishna, flew the aircraft to an attitude of 11-kms and went supersonic, touching 1.1 Mach with Test Director, Gp Capt D Chakravorty, guiding him from the telemetry facility of National Flight Test Centre (NFTC). The chase aircraft was flown by the Chief Test Pilot of NFTC, Gp Capt RR Tyagi with Wg Cdr Prabhu as the Test Director. It is a standard operating procedure to have another aircraft chase the aircraft under test. The test flight was supervised by Air Cmde Rohit Varma, the Project Director (Flight Test) at NFTC. The flight was also witnessed by Cmde BS Prahar, who is the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) at Naval Headquarters.

For the first time the Tejas flew in the configuration that will be finally delivered to the Indian Air Force. Senior scientists from (Aeronautical Development Agency) ADA, National Aerospace Laboratory, Bangalore and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) were involved in the development and flight test planning for the newly integrated flight control software which was used by the test aircraft. The senior management of The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Bangalore and HAL were on hand to ensure that all activities went off as per the schedule.

Speaking on the occasion, the Programme Director of ADA, Shri PS Subramanyam said that the Tejas team is now heading to central India to carry out hot weather trials. He expressed confidence that the aircraft would soon be flown by operational pilots of the defence services.

http://www.livefist.blogspot.com/

 

[nandu]

Team LCA will now gear up for the hot-weather trials along with the first flight of LSP-5 says HAL chief Ashok Nayak.


http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/

 

[greyhound]

Any news on the Engines which one is going to keep this and the following ones in air.0_0

 

[nandu]

Second Tejas (LSP-4 ) takes off with MMR Radar and CMDS

Barely over a month ago LSP-3 for the first time had taken off with a on board Hybrid MMR radar on board and now LSP-4 with MMR radar has successfully conducted its first test flight and achieved supersonic speed (Mach 1.1) in its first flight . LSP-4 is also carrying new Avionics Software upgrade ,but the most important equipment on board is locally developed indigenous counter-measure dispensation system (CMDS) which has been developed by State-owned defence firm Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).


CMDS is designed to protect an aircraft from missile attacks, which it does through its sensors that are linked to a chaff and flare dispensing system. Once the CMDS picks up an enemy missile locked on to the aircraft, it fires chaffs and flares aimed at misguiding it, for the missile mistakes the cloud of chaffs and flares to be the aircraft and turns towards it. This deception provides the pilot an opportunity to take evasive action.

The CMDS is designed to protect aircraft against radar-guided and infrared seeking air and ground missiles. CMDS had successful trials on Jaguar fighter aircraft last year , So far major powers such as the United States, United Kingdom and Russia are amongst the few countries that have industry expertise of the system.

LSP-4 is also equipeed with Radar warning receiver (RWR) and Environmental Cooling System (ECS) which is critical to ensure the adequate cooling of critical areas, such as, the avionics.

LSP-5 is also ready and has been doing it Taxi Trials and will be able to take to air in another month or two as informed by a source , work on Second twin seater is also been carried out by HAL .


http://idrw.org/?p=1883#more-1883

 

[ppgj]

LCA has been going great guns the past couple of months. IOC, IMO was more a formality considering it has been opened to almost the full envelope during the test runs. with MMR having been integrated IAF will take over for BVR and other radar guided missiles.

great work ADA, DRDO.. Chin up!!! heart warming indeed.

it is rumoured it may be carrying a new RWJ which has been tested extensively on possibly jaguars and mig 27's. any confirmation??

 

[nitesh]

LCA has been going great guns the past couple of months. IOC, IMO was more a formality considering it has been opened to almost the full envelope during the test runs. with MMR having been integrated IAF will take over for BVR and other radar guided missiles.

great work ADA, DRDO.. Chin up!!! heart warming indeed.

it is rumoured it may be carrying a new RWJ which has been tested extensively on possibly jaguars and mig 27's. any confirmation??

they have received order for 40 of RWJ, fair possibility of these being on LCA

http://mod.nic.in/reports/AR-eng-2010.pdf

page 88
Radar Warner Jammer (RWJ) for MiG-27: The Jammer for MiG-27 aircraft has been developed which consists of a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Self Protection Jammer (SPJ). System design and integration have been completed. DRDO has delivered 40 kits to HAL for integration with aircraft.

 

[nitesh]

ok check this out:

http://www.defenceaviation.com/2010/04/lca-tejas-finally-gets-radar.html

Defence Aviation has learnt that the radar was a Hybrid version of Israel's Elta EL/M-2032 which is currently in service with Indian Navy on its Sea Harrier fleet. The radar is mechanically steered and most components are of Indian origin. The processor of the radar is of Israeli origin similar to that found on the EL/M-2032. There was some confusion regarding the type of radar but it has now been confirmed that it is Doppler pulse radar.

Meanwhile the LSP-4 is undergoing ground trails and will start flying in a month followed by LSP-5 which should start flying a week later. The recent test flight also had a new air data processor, Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and a communication and navigation system. The flight lasted for some 52 minutes of which the LSP-3 cruised at Mach 0.8 for some 40 minutes.
The Hybrid MMR won't be seen on the future versions of the aircraft apart from the first 40 as the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) is working on a much advance Active Electronically Scanner Array radar (AESA) which be much superior to the Hybrid MMR. The new AESA radar is necessary for the Tejas to receive the Final operations clearance (FOC).

 

[JAISWAL]

now thats a very-very gooooood new.
so light weight beast is finaly arrived in its final configuration. ;-)

 

[RAM]

Indian combat jet's fourth production version flies


India's indigenously developed light combat aircraft Tejas inched a step closer towards its induction in the Indian Air Force (IAF) when the fourth production version of the jet successfully completed its maiden flight here Wednesday.
The test flight of the supersonic fly-by-wire fourth-generation fighter was a major breakthrough as for the first time, Tejas flew in the configuration that will be finally delivered to the IAF, said an official of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

The aircraft has been jointly designed by the Aeronautics Development Agency (ADA) and HAL, which is the prime industrial contractor.

'The Tejas team is now heading to central India to carry out hot weather trials. The aircraft will soon be flown by operational pilots of the defence services,' ADA Programme Director P.S. Subramanyam said.

The aircraft took off at 11.10 a.m. and landed 40 minutes later at the HAL Bangalore airport.

The test pilot, Group Captain Suneet Krishna, flew the aircraft to an attitude of 11 km and went supersonic, touching 1.1 Mach, a notch faster than the speed of sound.

Test director Group Captain D. Chakravorty guided Krishan from the telemetry facility of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC).

A chase aircraft was flown by the chief test pilot of NFTC, Group Captain R.R Tyagi with Wing Commander Prabhu. It is a standard operating procedure to have another aircraft accompany a fighter under test.

Air Commodore Rohit Varma, the project director at NFTC, supervised the test flight.


The aircraft that flew Wednesday was designated LSP-4 (limited series production-4). The first, second and third LSP jets flew in April, 2007; June 2008 and April 2010.

The Tejas is expected to cost Rs.150 crore per aircraft. The IAF has ordered 20 jets, which will be delivered by 2013. A repeat order for a similar number of aircraft is likely.

http://sify.com/news/indian-combat-...-version-flies-news-national-kgct4bihfea.html

 

[LETHALFORCE]

old article discussing these developments

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/12/stories/2007021214820500.htm

Military aircraft to be equipped to deflect missiles

BANGALORE: Propelling India to an exclusive club of nations with Counter-Measure Dispensation System (CMDS) capability for military aircraft, the Hyderabad-based State-owned defence firm Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has completed the development phase of its indigenous CMDS. It will supply the system for the defence industry this year.

The CMDS, designed to protect an aircraft from missile attacks, will now be integrated with all fighter and military aircraft manufactured in the country, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

It will also be part of the upgrades of aircraft of the Indian Air Force and Navy and future generation airplanes, BDL chairman and managing director, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Raajnish Gossain told The Hindu at the "Aero-India 2007" aerospace exposition here.

The system was tried and evaluated on the Jaguar fighter aircraft in August 2006. "With the development phase completed, we will start supply of the system by the end of this year," Maj. Gen. Gossain said. The project was launched three years ago.

Joint effort

For serial production, BDL will work with the IAF, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and DARE, besides the State-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Once mass-produced, the indigenous CMDS is expected to emerge as a big cost-efficient solution to the Indian defence industry. India now has to rely on costly systems imported from the United States, United Kingdom and Russia, the only countries with industry expertise on the system.

Here's how the CMDS works: once its sensors spot an enemy missile in hot pursuit of the aircraft, the system fires chaffs and flares misguiding the missile.

The missile mistakes the cloud of chaffs and flares to be the aircraft and turns towards it.

Flight to safety

This provides ample time and space for the pilot to take the aircraft to safety.

This air-borne defence system thus provides self-protection against radar guided and Infra Red seeking air and ground missiles, and radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles.

Launched in 1970 for production of guided missiles and allied defence equipment, BDL has now emerged as a prime production agency for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, the second-generation Anti-Tank Guided Missiles Milan and Konkurs and their upgraded versions, the Milan-2T and Konkurs-M.

The company's focus is on products developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation and products under technology transfer from foreign partners.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.defenceaviation.com/2010/04/lca-tejas-finally-gets-radar.html



LCA Tejas finally gets Radar!

India's most ambitious military program to build an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) reached a major milestone on 23rd April; Friday when it first test flew a radar onboard. The LSP-3 model of the aircraft carried a radar inside its nose for the first time. This comes more than 9 years after it first took to skies. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) described the radar as Multi-mode radar.
Defence Aviation has learnt that the radar was a Hybrid version of Israel's Elta EL/M-2032 which is currently in service with Indian Navy on its Sea Harrier fleet. The radar is mechanically steered and most components are of Indian origin. The processor of the radar is of Israeli origin similar to that found on the EL/M-2032. There was some confusion regarding the type of radar but it has now been confirmed that it is Doppler pulse radar.
The achievement is significant as this bring the LCA-Tejas closer to receiving the Initial Operation Clearance (IOC). All the necessary tests to receive the IOC are done and now only tests related to the radar remain. It's expected that these will be completed in 6 months and after that the LCA will enter service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) which has ordered 40 units of LCA's in IOC configuration. The first aircraft is expected to enter service during the second quarter of 2011.
Meanwhile the LSP-4 is undergoing ground trails and will start flying in a month followed by LSP-5 which should start flying a week later. The recent test flight also had a new air data processor, Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and a communication and navigation system. The flight lasted for some 52 minutes of which the LSP-3 cruised at Mach 0.8 for some 40 minutes.
The Hybrid MMR won't be seen on the future versions of the aircraft apart from the first 40 as the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) is working on a much advance Active Electronically Scanner Array radar (AESA) which be much superior to the Hybrid MMR. The new AESA radar is necessary for the Tejas to receive the Final operations clearance (FOC).

 

[sunnyv]

After the hot weather trials by LSP4,5 for CMDS ,New Avionics, communications system . What lies ahead is a cruical phase for Tejas to acheive IOC . R73/PythonV and R77/Derby integration and incrasing AOA will eventually determine how good Tejas comes up as a role for Multi-role fighter .

 

[nitesh]

Hot weather trials in nagpur
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...e=Tejas LSP-4 Goes Supersonic In First Flight

Vice Chief of IAF Air Marshal P.K. Barbora told AVIATION WEEK that the first flight of LSP-4 is "one step forward" in the project.

"As you move along in a program, you will overcome problems quickly. Now the LSP-5, 6 and 7 will come," he said. "It's a proud moment and we are also keenly awaiting the arrival of LCA Mk-II in the years to come, which will be an advanced platform."

Program Director (Combat Aircraft) and Director, Aeronautics Development Agency (ADA) P.S. Subramanyam told AVIATION WEEK that the project is moving toward IOC.

"The LSP-4 is equipped fully to the standards of IOC. We are left with a few more flight tests and then Tejas would reach the much-awaited target. The Tejas team will now head for hot weather trials (HWT)," Subramanyam said. The HWT is likely to be held at Nagpur.

"More aircraft will join the fleet now and the next aircraft (LSP-5) will have all systems of LSP 3 and 4, making it much more advanced. We are on track," Nayak said.

In addition to the MMR, the LSP-4 had [an] onboard radar warning receiver, [an] electronic countermeasure system (ECM), [and] new avionics software.

"Tejas-LSP-4 is the final configuration of [the] IAF version. Now all the hardware items have come onboard and there won't be anymore additional systems, barring some software changes," an ADA source said. "All objectives have been met and all systems worked as per the design. IAF pilots from [the] operational front would soon fly LCA."

 

[nitesh]

 

[Rahul Singh]

Sorry of one liner.

Nitesh: Any idea whether BVRAAM will be integrated prior to IOC or not, if yes then which one?

 

[Patriot]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2010/06/03/08.xml&headline=Tejas
Tejas LSP-4 Goes Supersonic In First Flight

Jun 3, 2010



By Anantha Krishnan M.

BENGALURU, India — The fourth limited series production (LSP-4) model of India's light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas had its successful first flight at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's military airport here in Bengaluru on June 2.

The flight, piloted by Group Capt. Suneet Krishna of the National Flight Test Center (NFTC), lasted 40 min. The pilot went supersonic and later recovered the full flight envelope, exhibiting confidence in the system.

As with the April 23 first flight of LSP-3, during the June 2 flight the LSP-4 carried the Elta multi-mode radar (MMR) onboard. The LSP-4 aircraft is the 10th test vehicle to join the flight line. Tejas is slated to receive initial operational clearance (IOC) by December, paving way for its induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Vice Chief of IAF Air Marshal P.K. Barbora told AVIATION WEEK that the first flight of LSP-4 is "one step forward" in the project.

"As you move along in a program, you will overcome problems quickly. Now the LSP-5, 6 and 7 will come," he said. "It's a proud moment and we are also keenly awaiting the arrival of LCA Mk-II in the years to come, which will be an advanced platform."

P.S. Subramanyam, program director for combat aircraft and director of the Aeronautics Development Agency, told AVIATION WEEK that the project is moving toward IOC.

"The LSP-4 is equipped fully to the standards of IOC," Subramanyam said. "We are left with a few more flight tests and then Tejas [should] reach the much-awaited target." The Tejas team will now head for hot weather trials, which are likely to be held at Nagpur.

On June 2, the pilot flew the aircraft to an altitude of 11 km. (7 mi.) and went supersonic, reaching Mach 1.1 with Test Director Group Capt. D. Chakravorty guiding the flight from the NFTC telemetry facility. For the first time, Tejas flew in the configuration that will be ultimately delivered to the IAF. Group Capt. Suneet flew the LCA prototype vehicle (PV-1) in 2003.

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak says that the successful flights of LSP-3 and LSP-4 in quick succession are an indication of the accelerated pace at which the program is now being run.

"More aircraft will join the fleet now and the next aircraft [LSP-5] will have all systems of LSP 3 and 4, making it much more advanced. We are on track," Nayak said.

In addition to the MMR, the LSP-4 had an onboard radar warning receiver, [an] electronic countermeasure system (ECM), and new avionics software.

"Tejas-LSP-4 is the final configuration of [the] IAF version," an ADA source said. "Now all the hardware items have come onboard and there won't be anymore additional systems, barring some software changes. All objectives have been met and all systems worked as per the design. IAF pilots from [the] operational front [will] soon fly LCA."

IAF sources said the LCA program's recent progress has been a huge boost to the force's confidence in the wake of delays and cost overruns.

"We are all keen to see the Tejas induction," a senior-ranked IAF official with Air Headquarters said. "After having waited for so many years, investing so many man hours, review meetings and money, it's ... natural to become anxious. It's heartening to see the platform is taking definite shape and heading in the right direction,"

Credit: DRDO

 

[RAM]

Tejas boosts test programme

small group of engineers stood tensely beside the runway on Thursday at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore, peering at the sky. As two approaching dots rapidly enlarged into the menacing delta-wing shapes of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, an animated murmur arose. Test pilot, Wing Commander Suneet Krishna was bringing in a brand new Tejas fighter from its inaugural test flight.Krishna descended steeply, a parachute flowering as his aircraft touched down; a split second behind him, the chase aircraft, another Tejas flown by Group Captain R R Tyagi, "peeled off" into the sky with a roar. That was the "chase aircraft", which had watched and photographed every moment of Krishna's flight. In those 40 minutes, both fighters had climbed to 36,000 feet; broken the sound barrier; turned and twisted sharply; and checked several parameters as part of the Tejas flight test programme.

The fighters taxied into where the ground crew was assembled andping broke out, as Krishna climbed out flashing a thumbs-up. A bucket of water was ceremonially dumped over his head (the Tejas budget does not run to champagne), several bouquets handed over, and kaju barfi stuffed into his mouth. The fourth Limited Series Production Tejas (LSP-4) was ready to join the flight test programme.

Each LSP Tejas contains more systems and is more complex than its predecessors. LSP-3, which first flew on 23rd April, was the first Tejas with a multi-mode radar (MMR); and with electronic systems to differentiate friendly from hostile aircraft. LSP-4 has all that and also flare and chaff dispensers to confuse enemy radars and missiles: a Counter Measure Dispensing System.
With the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) of the Tejas due this year, the flight test programme desperately needs every aircraft it can build. The testing, which requires thousands of individual flight checks, proceeds only as fast as the number of aircraft available for the testing. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which oversees the Tejas programme, has faced sharp criticism from the Indian Air Force for producing successive LSP aircraft too slowly, thereby protracting the testing and delaying the IOC. LSP-4 will be only the eighth Tejas in the flight test programme, which has done 1,300 sorties, amounting to more than 700 hours of flying.
HAL admits that LSP-3 was overdue by a year, but points out that LSP-4 has followed in just over a month. "I am pushing for LSP-5 to fly by June-end," says D Balasunder, the managing director of HAL's Bangalore Complex. "It will have all the systems fitted in LSP-4, and will additionally have night lighting within the cockpit, and an auto-pilot."

From the runway, technicians move off to the hangars with the newly-inaugurated LSP-4 to ready it for a gruelling regime of hot weather trials. This weekend, LSP-3 and LSP-4 will leave for Nagpur, where, day after day, they will bake in the sun for hours before hurling themselves into the sky to test whether their sophisticated electronics can withstand the Indian summer.

The ADA plans to build LSP-6 and LSP-7 quickly and then hand those two Tejas fighters to the IAF. At its base in Sulur, near Coimbatore, the IAF will operate the aircraft to provide feedback about improvements that are needed to make the Tejas easier to maintain in combat. ADA sources plan to make easy maintainability a key feature of the Tejas Mark- II, the next, improved, version of the Indian fighter."The Tejas Mark I is already as good or better as the light fighters in the IAF," declares ADA chief, PS Subramaniam, referring to the MiG-21 BISON. "The air force should order at least 60 of them."

But, the IAF is less exuberant. Senior air marshals point out to Business Standard that, if they grant the Tejas IOC at the end of 2010, it will be in the long-term interest of the fighter programme, not because the Tejas has met all its targets. The Tejas does not fly as fast as originally planned; its acceleration is significantly less; and the Tejas has not been tested yet in carrying much of the weaponry it is designed to.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tejas-boosts-test-programme/397143/

 

[plugwater]

Tejas LSP-4 tests the skies, boosts test programme

The small group of engineers stood tensely beside the runway on Thursday at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore, peering at the sky. As two approaching dots rapidly enlarged into the menacing delta-wing shapes of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, an animated murmur arose. Test pilot, Wing Commander Suneet Krishna, was bringing in a brand new Tejas fighter from its inaugural test flight.

Krishna descended steeply, a parachute flowering as his aircraft touched down; a split second behind him, the chase aircraft, another Tejas flown by Group Captain RR Tyagi, "peeled off" into the sky with a roar. That was the "chase aircraft", which had watched and photographed every moment of Krishna's flight. In those forty minutes, both fighters had climbed to 36,000 feet; broken the sound barrier; turned and twisted sharply; and checked several parameters as part of the Tejas flight test programme.

The fighters taxied in to where the ground crew was assembled and clapping broke out as Krishna climbed out flashing a thumbs-up. A bucket of water was ceremonially dumped over his head (the Tejas budget does not run to champagne), several bouquets handed over, and kaju barfi stuffed into his mouth. The fourth Limited Series Production Tejas (LSP-4) was ready to join the flight test programme.

Each LSP Tejas contains more systems, and is more complex, than its predecessors. LSP-3, which first flew on 23rd April, was the first Tejas with a multi-mode radar (MMR); and with electronic systems to differentiate friendly from hostile aircraft. LSP-4 has all that and also flare and chaff dispensers to confuse enemy radars and missiles: a Counter Measure Dispensing System.

With the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) of the Tejas due this year, the flight test programme desperately needs every aircraft it can build. The testing, which requires thousands of individual flight checks, proceeds only as fast as the number of aircraft available for the testing. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which oversees the Tejas programme, has faced sharp criticism from the Indian Air Force for producing successive LSP aircraft too slowly, thereby protracting the testing and delaying the IOC. LSP-4 will be only the 8th Tejas in the flight test programme, which has done 1300 sorties amounting to more than 700 hours of flying.

HAL admits that LSP-3 was overdue by a year, but points out that LSP-4 has followed in just over a month. "I am pushing for LSP-5 to fly by June-end", says D Balasunder, the Managing Director of HAL's Bangalore Complex. "It will have all the systems fitted in LSP-4, and will additionally have night lighting within the cockpit, and an auto-pilot."

From the runway, technicians move off to the hangars with the newly inaugurated LSP-4 to ready it for a gruelling regime of hot weather trials. This weekend, LSP-3 and LSP-4 will leave for Nagpur where, day after day, they will bake in the sun for hours before hurling themselves into the sky to test whether their sophisticated electronics can withstand the Indian summer.

The ADA plans to build LSP-6 and LSP-7 quickly and then hand those two Tejas fighters to the IAF. At its base in Sulur, near Coimbatore, the IAF will operate the aircraft to provide feedback about improvements that are needed to make the Tejas easier to maintain in combat. ADA sources plan to make easy maintainability a key feature of the Tejas Mark II, the next, improved, version of the Indian fighter.

"The Tejas Mark I is already as good or better as the light fighters in the IAF", declares ADA chief, PS Subramaniam, referring to the MiG-21 BISON. "The air force should order at least 60 of them."

But the IAF is less exuberant. Senior air marshals point out to Business Standard that, if they grant the Tejas IOC at the end of 2010, it will be in the long-term interest of the fighter programme, not because the Tejas has met all its targets. The Tejas does not fly as fast as originally planned; its acceleration is significantly less; and the Tejas has not been tested yet in carrying much of the weaponry that it is designed to.

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/

 

[plugwater]

The Tejas LSP-4 taxying in after its first test flight on Thursday. It was accompanied on the flight by a "chase aircraft", which was LSP-4

A closer look at LSP-4. Besides all the systems flown on LSP-3, the LSP-4 also had a CMDS, i.e. chaff and flare dispensers

The ground team takes charge of LSP-4 at the end of its 40-minute inaugural flight

Wing Commander Suneet Krishna, the newest test pilot of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) is welcomed by Tejas engineers

The traditional bucket of water is dumped over his head to celebrate the first flight of a new aircraft. Champagne, clearly, is not catered for by the Tejas budget

Suneet flashes a thumbs-up at the end of his first test flight of a new Tejas. He was not alone. Every parameter of the LSP-4 was monitored, every second of the flight, from the NFTC

A happy group. To the left of Suneet is PS Subramaniam, the Director of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is developing the Tejas

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/