IAF conducts multi-disciplinary trial of LCA

New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) Moving closer to achieving
Initial Operational Capability configuration for the Light
Combat Aircraft (LCA) by end of 2010, the Indian Air Force
conducted five-week multi-disciplinary trials of a pair of
indigenous fighters at its Jamnagar air base.

"The trials entailed flight envelope expansion in various
stores configurations, as well as air-to-ground weapon
delivery trials in different modes of weapon delivery," a
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official
said here Friday.

The LCA successfully demonstrated its ability to tackle
targets designated visually by the pilot, officials added.

After this phase, officials said that the LCA will be
enabled by its on-board navigation and attack computers to
take on targets, which are not visible to the pilot.

The five-week trials were conducted by the flight test
crew of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) including their
test pilots, flight test engineers and instrumentation
specialists.

"This was the first time that the Tejas aircraft have
operated away from home base for so long," officials said.

LCA is expected to be inducted into the IAF in initial
operational capability (IOC) by December 2010. Last year,
Defence Minister A K Antony had said that the IAF will induct
around seven squadrons of the aircraft in its fleet.

Developing the aircraft since 1982, the DRDO is expected
to hand over the first squadron of the LCA in the IOC
configuration to the IAF by 2010-end.

A total of seven LCA squadrons will be inducted in the
IAF. The first two squadrons will be in the IOC configuration
whereas the rest five will be the LCA Mark II, which will be
an upgraded version of the aircraft.

The first two squadrons will be equipped with the GE-404
engines and the remaining five will have either the GE-414 or
the Eurojet 200 engines. DRDO is also in talks with various
aircraft manufacturers to help it in expanding the flight
envelope of the aircraft. PTI AJD
DDC