NEW DELHI, Jan 18: India has finally started producing its own fighter aircraft, joining the league of select nations who can do so.
It took Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) 32 years to produce and handover first Light Combat Aircraft-LCA, which was named Tejas by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Project LCA had started its journey in August, 1983 when Project Definition Phase (PDP) was initiated with a government sanction of Rs 560 crore. But it took five years for PDP document to be submitted to the government and five more years to sanction Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED)of phase-I. Phase-1 sanction was of Rs 2,188 cr that included Rs 560 crore sanctioned earlier. But the scope of the programme was limited to building and flight testing two Technology Demonstrators only. After eight years of vigorous design and development phase, India woke up one fine morning on January 4, 2001 and saw its own iron bird flying in the sky.
After first flight LCA programme got it wings, a confident government sanctioned FSED Phase-II design, development and flight testing of three Prototypes and eight Limited-Series Aircraft at a cost of Rs 3,301.78 crore. Additional sum of Rs 2475.78 crore were sanctioned in 2010.
The delay in obtaining these sanctions necessitated several design upgrades towards obsolescence management. All these were addressed making Tejas a state-of-the-art, advanced Four+ Generation combat aircraft.
Tejas passed a historic milestone when Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) in December 2011 was obtained. But insiders in the Indian Air Force say that this IOC was granted in hurry while Tejas was a distant dream.
This necessitated the second IOC to Tejas which was obtained on December 20, 2013.
“Tejas is a 4+ generation Fighter Aircraft, world’s smallest, light-weight, multi-role, supersonic aircraft optimised for air-superiority and air-defence roles,” officials closely connected to the LCA Programme said.
The aircraft is designed by the Indian Scientists and manufactured with Indian hands to meet the frontline tactical requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Tejas will replace ageing combat fleet of MiG-21s in phased manner. “The wealth of experience of IAF test pilots associated with Tejas has contributed a great deal in evolution of Tejas as a superb fighter,” they said.
Tejas is significant for its lighter weight and greater agility and manoeuvrability. The lighter weight is achieved by use of higher percentage of Carbon Fibre Composites. Other significant features of this indigenous aircraft are the digital fly-by-wire system, flight control systems and open architecture computer. The Naval variant of LCA is also under development and last month had its first flight from the shore based test facility (STBF) at Goa.
In the design and development programme, HAL has produced 15 aircraft including seven in Limited Series Production (LSP), 2 Technology Demonstrators, 3 Fighter Prototype, 2 Trainer Prototype and 1 Naval Prototype. These aircraft have completed more than 2,800 flights.
With the coming up of new hi-tech manufacturing complex for the capacity augmentation of LCA, HAL is confident of sharing its responsibility in ensuring the national security. HAL is the principal partner for the development of LCA along with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) which is the nodal design agency and responsible for program management of the project.
Tejas incorporates an amalgamation of contemporary features and technologies.
Tejas is the lightest aircraft of the world. The lighter weight of aircraft is achieved by the extensive use of advanced composite materials which is about 70 per cent of airframe. LCA boast of a highly advanced avionics suite. It has Advanced Glass Cockpit enabling situational awareness, decision support and data fusion. The aircraft has an Open Architecture Mission and Display Computer for obsolescence management. Computer Control for Electro- Mechanical System and Advanced Weapon Management System makes it a state of art flying machine. Tejas also incorporates advanced electro-mechanical systems which contains computer controlled brake management, fuel and environment control system.(UNI)
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