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Breaking News :Tejas LSP-3 flies with new Cobham quartz radome

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Cobham Composites Quartz Radome


Cobham had handed over the newly designed quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe to be integrated to India’s Tejas MK-1 Light Combat Aircraft after considerable delays.

The much awaited Final Operational Clearance of India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft was delayed due to non-supply of newly designed quartz radome and a bolt on inflight refueling probe by Cobham UK in March last year.

Other than software tweaks, the main difference b/w IOC-2 and FOC standard will involve the integration of a newly designed quartz radome and a bolt on inflight refueling probe, both supplied by Cobham UK.

The quartz nose cone in particular is expected to increase the detection range of the ELTA MMR on onboard from 50 Kms to 80 plus Kms.

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Cobham In-flight Refueling Probe for TEJAS

If Cobham had kept its delivery timelines, the idea was to wrap up ground check outs for the IFR probe in October-November last year and then commence flight trials. Some 20-25 day/night flights at different altitudes and speeds would be needed to clear the IFR system and had the probe been delivered in September 2014, it would have easily been cleared before mid-2015.
 
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By the way one cannot see the IFR probe in the OP picture? Is it integration or will it be done after the radome is done with its test?
 
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