The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa on Wednesday.
“At a height of around 20,000 feet, the missile launch from the aircraft was accomplished successfully. The test’s goals were all achieved, and the textbook launch was flawless,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
The test launch was observed by the test director, scientists from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and representatives from the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA) and the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). A Chase Tejas twin-seater aircraft was also keeping watch over the aircraft.
The Chairman and Managing Director of HAL promised those present that exports of this improved variant of the LCA Tejas will start in February 2024.
While congratulating the production company HAL, CAS remarked that the LCA Mk 1A may be integrated into one of the operational bases of the Indian Air Force (IAF) early in the next year based on their pledges. The CAS commended the efforts of all parties and emphasised the importance of applying the LCA program’s lessons learned into upcoming indigenous Design and Developmental projects.
CAS provided these encouraging comments despite the review revealing that the project was behind schedule. The number of deployments to forward sites and participation in international exercises for the LCA Mk 1A is projected to increase in the upcoming months. Due to the more capable model’s timely deliveries, this is anticipated to happen.
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), according to CAS, has served as the IAF’s flagship in its efforts to domesticate its aircraft fleet. He emphasised that all stakeholders must embrace a policy of partnership to ensure that this endeavour, which is of national significance, will be successful. More significantly, it indicates India’s independence in the aerospace sector.
It was claimed during the evaluation that the IAF had received every LCA Mk 1 fighter version for which it had been contracted.
For delivery in 2021, 83 LCA Mk-1A aircraft have been ordered by the IAF.
