Tejas LSP-3 in maiden flight - Vayu Aerospace

systems are designed and developed bySLRDC, HAL at Hyderabad. With thesesystems integrated and flown, the Tejas“is very close to final production standardaircraft as planned to be inducted into theIndian Air Force,” according to ADA.The LSP-3 maiden flight was madeby Wg Cdr George Thomas (formerlyCO No. 20 Squadron who had led the IAFteam at ‘Red Flag’ in Nellis, USA and isnow with the National Flight Test Centreat ADA). As per standard procedure thefirst flight was shepherded by a chaseaircraft (Tejas Trainer PV-5) flown byGp Capt RR Tyagi, the Chief Test Pilotand Wg Cdr (Retd) PK Raveendran SC,the Group Director (Flight Test). The testflight was conducted from the Telemetrystation by the Test Director, Wg Cdr SToffeen, under the supervision of AirCmde Rohit Varma VM, the ProjectDirector (Flight Test).Tejas LCA Project CostsThe Committee during the course ofexamination of Demands for Grants ofthe previous year had noted that the LCAproject was sanctioned in 1983 withthe original cost of Rs. 560 crore. Thefirst phase of the project was completedon 31 March 2004 with the cost of Rs2188 crore. The sanctioned cost of thesecond phase was Rs 3301.87 crore andprojected date of completion was 31December 2008. The Ministry furtherinformed that in November 2009,sanction was accorded for continuingfull scale engineering development ofthe LCA till 31 December 2018 with anadditional cost of Rs 5302.98 crore.Report Card(as documented by MoD)“Flight Test Phase on LCA Tejas initiatedon 4 January 2001. Overall objectives ofTejas FSED Phase I have been achievedin March 2004 with completion of 202FSED Phase 1Sanctioned costRs 2188 Crore (inclusive ofrough estimate of Rs. 560)Projected date of completion: 30 June 1998Total expenditure:Rs 2188 CroreActual date of completion: 31 March 2004Tejas PV-5 two-seater which acted as the ‘chase aircraft’.flight tests on Tejas (TD-1, TD-2 & PV-1)demonstrating critical technologiesidentified during PDP. As on 15 March2010, total of 1324 flight tests (776 hrs: 59mins flight duration) have been completedutilising 8 Tejas aircraft.Handling quality is adjudged as “verygood” by 15 test pilots of IAF and IndianNavy. Maiden flight of the first two-seater(trainer) version Prototype Vehicle 5(PV-5) took place on 26 November 2009.Presently, LCA Phase 2 activities leadingto Initial Operational Clearance (IOC)are in progress. GE F404 IN20 engineand Martin Baker Mk.16G ejection seatinstalled and are functional on the Tejas.External stores (800 Itr & 1200 Itr droptank) identified for IOC, integrated andflight tested.Air-to-ground weapons includingpractice bombs and 1000lb bombsintegrated and dropped successfully.Air-to-air close combat missile (R-73E)released from Tejas. Sea level trialscompleted at Arrakonam and Goa. Hotweather trials (Phase 1) completedat Nagpur. Cold weather flight trials(Phase 1) carried out successfully at Leh.Night flying trials (Phase 1) completed.Crosswind take off and landing carriedout successfully. Initial OperationalClearance (IOC) is scheduled to becompleted by December 2010.Searching for a new engineWith regard to the LCA powerplant,the Committee, during the course ofexamination of Demands for Grants ofthe previous years, had been informedthat the Tejas was running into ‘seriousproblems’ and the option was to either toimport an engine (either the GE F414 orEJ 200) or persist with the GTRE Kaveri.The Committee was later informed thatthe final position to import a suitableengine in place of Kaveri engine hadbeen taken, Requests for Proposal werefloated and responses received. Technicalevaluation of the offers received was‘under progress’.Tejas (Light Combat Aircraft) Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) ProgrammeFSED Phase 2Sanctioned costRs 3301.78 CroreProjected date of completion 31 December 2008Revised PDC 31 December 2012(with additional fund ofRs 2475.78 Crore)In November 2009, sanction has been accorded for continuing Full Scale Engineering Development of the LCA till 31 December2018 with an estimated additional cost of Rs 5302.98 crore.III/201031