Tejas SP-2 to make debut flight in September (Update 1)
Second Series production (SP-2) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft from the batch of 20 ‘series production’ aircraft is gearing up to make its first flight next month, Sources from LCA’s production agency Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd have confirmed this to idrw.org
First flight of SP-1 aircraft was completed last year in October and earlier this year aircraft along with technical documents was handed over to Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha of Indian Air Force, by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the presence of key officials from HAL and ADA.
Series production (SP) aircraft are being built at HAL’s production line in Bangalore and the first lot of 20 aircrafts will be built as per IOC-II standards and next 20 aircrafts as per FOC Standards. As of now, IAF has ordered 40 Tejas Mark-I aircraft to form two squadrons and first squadron would be based at Sulur, which will compose of only experienced pilots and Gradually, a younger lot would be brought in, said defence analyst close to idrw.org.
HAL plans to hand over 4 more aircrafts by March 2016 and 8 Series production (SP) Aircraft’s for FY2016-17. Quartz nose cone which have been handed over to HAL from U.K. vendor Cobham will be integrated into three aircrafts by next month and will being radar performance testing to complete last lap of the project, called FOC (final operational clearance),which will also involve testing of new refuelling probe along with Air-to-air missiles .
Tejas SP-2 to make debut flight in September (Update 1) | idrw.org
UK based Company “Cobham” finally delivers quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe for LCA-Tejas
Cobham U.K as finally handed over newly designed quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe for integration with LCA-Tejas MK-1 to speed up its final operational clearance (FOC) which due to non-supplies already has been pushed back to March 2016.
New quartz radome developed by Cobham will replace Composite radome of Indian make to increase the detection range of the Indo-Israeli developed Hybrid ELTA MMR Radar from 50 Kms to 80 plus Km which currently are been used on Tejas MK-I aircrafts.
Cobham U.K were awarded Contract to supply New quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe in early 2014 , which missed multiple deadlines due to which FOC certification for Tejas MK-1 had to be postponed to March 2016 from its December deadline of this year.
Defence Analyst believe that radome integration and testing will begin soon and can be completed in next few weeks, but Integration of IFR probe might take few months since it involves Structural changes but sources close to idrw.org in past have confirmed that fuel pumping and fuel lines have already been installed in all last batch of LSP (Limited Series Production LCA) and SP ( Series Production LCA) aircrafts in anticipation of integrating IFR probes at later stage.
But Mid-air testing of IFR probes, where aircraft receives aviation fuel from the Refuelling tanker aircraft while in flight is not only a time-consuming process but requires months of preparations, which might again delay FOC process unless HAL is able to integrate in-flight refueling probes in multiple LCA aircrafts, to speed up the testing process.
Indian and Israeli team of engineers are closely currently working on Integrating Israeli developed within visual range (WVR) air-to-air Python-V missile and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air Derby missile in LCA Tejas aircrafts in Bangalore and DRDO plans to carry out first weapons trials in next few months, which are also important requirements of the final operational clearance (FOC) certification process required to be cleared by Tejas MK-1.
UK based Company “Cobham” finally delivers quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe for LCA-Tejas | idrw.org