By Anantha Krishnan M.
Bengaluru
The Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter logged its 1,500th flight on Dec. 4, marking a small, yet significant milestone in the program.
The flight was completed when the PV-2 landed at Bengaluru Military Airport from Goa Naval Station, India, sources tell Aviation Week. It was piloted by Group Capt. Suneet Krishna of the National Flight Test Center (NFTC).
The program is now confirmed to enter its initial operation clearance (IOC) phase this month. The formal release to service agreement is set to be signed Dec. 27 with the Aeronautical Development Agency, the Indian Air Force Project Management Team, the certifying agency Cemilac (Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification) and the NFTC working in tandem to iron out last-minute issues.
In recent weapon trials in Goa, the Tejas fired a total of three R-73 close combat missiles and performed a successful demonstration of chaff and flare release.
“We fired R-73 at an altitude of 12 km. (7.4 miles), which is a rarity. Last week alone we logged 25-30 flights in Goa and Bengaluru,” a source said. Each flight lasted from 30-45 min., demonstrating how quickly the aircraft can be serviced.
In a related development, the Tejas gearbox was finally certified by Cemilac. Indigenously designed and developed by Chennai-based Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, the Aircraft-Mounted Accessory Gearbox is capable of transmitting 250 hp. at 16,810 rpm. with less than 38 kg. (83.7 lb.) of weight. It operates in starter and accessory modes.
“In starter mode, it aids in starting the engine through Jet Fuel Starter, while in the accessory mode it drives accessories, namely two hydraulic pumps and an Integrated Drive Generator,” said K. Jayaprakash Ra, a Defense Research and Development Organization spokesman. “This gearbox has undergone strenuous environmental and structural testing and 1,000 hr. of endurance testing. To date, the gearboxes have undergone more than 2,000 hr. of flight testing,” he said.
Cemilac says type approval for the gearbox is a precursor to Tejas’ induction into IAF.