In one of the most significant milestones in the Light Combat Aircraft programme, Tejas prototype PV1 on Thursday successfully test-fired the close combat missile R-73 at the air-to-air range off the Goa coast.
The historic event marks the beginning of weaponisation, which is the focus of the current initial operational clearance phase of the LCA, the Defence Research and Development Organisation said in a press release in Banagalore.
The LCA PV-1, piloted by Gp Capt N Harish, Chief Test Pilot of the National Flight Test Centre ADA, carried out the test firing at a seven km altitude and 0.6 Mach. The flight test was conducted from the mobile telemetry vehicle where all the aircraft, systems and weapon data were closely monitored.
Quick analysis of the data revealed that it was a 'text book' launch where the systems performance matched the predictions well.
The event had proven the capability of the composite team comprising of designers, production agency, certification agency and the user agency (IAF) to integrate and flight test an advanced missile on the then advanced fighter aircraft Tejas.
The DRDO said air-to-air missile integration and testing, especially on a fly-by-wire aircraft, was a very complex task involving interfaces with aerodynamics, engine air intake, control laws, flight control system and avionics systems.
Naval ship INS Hansa provided all support for this important flight trial. The photo chase aircraft Sea Harrier was flown by Capt Yatish Saxena and Cdr Dalip Singh.
