Light combat aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas' which is scheduled to attain Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by this year-end has undergone the second phase of hot weather trials in the past one week at the AirForce station in Nagpur.
The first phase of hot weather trails were conducted at the same venue in May-Jun 2008. On both occasions, the trials were very well supported by Air Force Station Nagpur.
The objective of the current phase of hot weather trials is to prove that the aircraft is in IOC configuration with the weapon system and sensors integrated.
During the trials, the two Tejas aircraft have undertaken trial sorties especially to check out the aircraft systems such as Digital Flight Control Computer, Avionics Systems, Multi Mode Radar, RWR and the Electrical and Environment Control Systems under extremely high ambient temperature conditions up to 45 degree Celsius.
The trial team consisted of IAF flight test crew from the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) and Scientists/Engineers from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore, ADE, NAL, CEMILAC and DGAQA, defence release said.
During the test flights, data, video and audio from the test aircraft were transmitted in real time through the fibre optic connectivity provided by the Air Force AFNET to NFTC Bangalore, for closer monitoring and detailed analysis.
This facility has proven to be very effective in optimising overall flight test effort, while enhancing flight test safety, it said.
The trial team was able to achieve all the objectives during the week long hectic trials.
The LCA is progressing steadily towards achieving IOC by end of December 2010 and subsequent entry into service under the able guidance of P S Subramanyam Director, ADA and the optimal flight test planning under the leadership of Air Commodore Rohit Varma VM, Project Director (Flight Test) of NFTC, the release from defence PRO in Nagpur added.
