The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which has remained grounded for
more than three months, finally resumed flight-testing last week. Seven flights
of the Tejas have taken place since then without mishap.
The grounding of Tejas, which was kept
secret, took place because of the new pilot’s helmets. Since these protruded
above the ejection seats, the helmets could have prevented a smooth ejection by
smashing into the fighter’s canopy before it was blown off. Since that
constituted a serious safety issue for pilots, flight-testing was halted since
August.
The Defence
R&D Organisation (DRDO) chief, V K Saraswat, confirmed to Business Standard that the problem
had been resolved. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the DRDO agency
that oversees the Tejas programme, has now provided a backup mechanism to blow
off the canopy before the pilot’s head struck it.
“Yes, we had about three to
three-and-a-half-months of gap (in flight testing). Now, that problem has been
resolved. We have modified the Martin Bakerejection seats,
making these more reliable and giving more confidence to our pilots. With that
behind us, I think we are roaring now,” said Saraswat.
For the Tejas’ flight-test programme, which
is already behind schedule, this three month delay has been a blow. The Initial
Operation Clearance (IOC), which was scheduled for end-2010, and which the
Indian Air Force (IAF) accorded only provisionally in January 2011, is now
expected only around mid-2013.
The Final Operational Clearance (FOC),
which clears a fighter for combat operations, was scheduled for end-2012. This
could be delayed by at least two years. An upbeat Saraswat says the three-month
delay gave ADA an opportunity to resolve several
other problems, which needed to be done on the ground.
“We have made use of this time by solving
many of the problems which were part of the feedback that came from the flight
test programme. I feel by middle of next year we should complete (the IOC),” said Saraswat.
The Rs 14,047-crore LCA project involves
building an air force version of the fighter in two models — Tejas Mark I and
Tejas Mark II — as well as a naval version that will operate from aircraft
carriers.
The IAF has already placed orders on Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for two squadrons (42
fighters) of the Tejas Mark I aircraft. Defence Minister AK Antonytold Parliament on
May 21, that the IAF would be delivered six squadrons (126 fighters) by the end
of the 13th Plan, i.e. by 2022. While this was not specified, the next four
Tejas squadrons will be of the Mark II fighter, which will field the more power
General Electric F-414 engine. The government has allocated Rs 4,353 crore for
developing the Mark II fighter.
Meanwhile Pakistan’s light fighter, the
JF-17 Thunder, which was developed in partnership with China, has achieved
combat status. Three squadrons of the JF-17 are already in service in the
Pakistan Air Force, which expects to eventually operate some 12-13 squadrons of
the fighter.
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