11 things you didn't know about India's indigenous aircraft ( Source- The Defence News)

LCA Tejas ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Attributes- Vishak)

Original source- The Defence News

Tejas, India's first indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which is all set to replace the MiG-21 series, is a result of several years of design and development work from the DRDO.

What's special about India's own LCA? How does it rate on the global scale? We take a look at some lesser-known salient facts about the Tejas that set it apart from those in its league. 

'Best in its class' ::

According to Ravi Kumar Gupta, the Directorate of Public Interface at DRDO, 'Tejas is the best in its class in the world. It is a four plus generation aircraft.' Gupta said that it is 'not appropriate' to make a direct comparison of the Tejas with its global counterparts. 'It is a beautiful machine, designed for our own people,' he reiterated.

The technology used to manufacture the aircraft is such, that it 'will not go obsolete' for decades.

Four versions of the LCA ::

DRDO is developing four versions of the LCA; namely LCA for Air Force, LCA trainer for Air Force, LCA for Navy and LCA Navy Trainer. DRDO has also developed a special facility in Goa, that mimics the conditions for a Tejas for Navy landing, take-off and manoeuvre from an aircraft carrier.

Mark-I type Tejas LCA ::

While the Indian Air Force will induct Mark-I type Tejas LCA, a demand for Mark-II type Tejas has already been raised, which the DRDO is working on. The Mark-II type Tejas aircraft will have a higher capacity.

Features of stealth fighter aircraft ::

DRDO's Gupta said that the Tejas has many features of stealth fighter aircraft. 'The wings are made entirely of composite structures. The contemporary aircraft has a totally digital fly-by-wire control system,' he said.

'Unstable configuration' ::

Another feature that is special to Tejas is the 'unstable configuration' technique with which it has been built. 'To explain it in lay-man terms, between a bike and a car, a car is much more stable, but is unable to exhibit the same manoeuvrability as a bike. Combat aircraft need to be highly manoeuvrable.'

To strike a balance between the two aspects was a big technological challenge for the DRDO.

Unique features ::

The Tejas also incorporates a 'glass cockpit' in which information is displayed 'real-time' to the pilot. 'Tejas also has open architecture software for avionics. DRDO can update it as and when required,' said Gupta citing the same as a big plus point of the aircraft.

Many missiles test-fired :: 

Through the years, DRDO has tested Tejas with different kinds of weaponry. From R-73 air-to-air missile to bomb dropping (including laser guided bombs), various weapons have been successfully test fired from the aircraft.

In future, DRDO also plans test firing of the indigenous Astra missile and guns from the Tejas.

Why the 'delay'? ::

Asked about the much-talked about 'delay' in developing of the aircraft, Gupta said, 'It was only in 1993 that the proposal for development of Tejas was submitted. The maiden flight of Tejas took place in 2001. It took a total of 20 years from 1993 to 2013. This time period is the standard required by any country, even the most advanced ones,' he said.

Levels of testing ::

Tejas, which is a single seater, single engine aircraft had to undergo multiple levels of testing, before it was finally declared ready. 'An aircraft has of fly 'n' number of times, in different conditions and environments, and at different angles of attack before it is declared fit.

In 2013 alone, the Tejas has taken over 450 test flights.

Total cost ::

The Tejas LCA Air Force versions have till date cost the DRDO approximately Rs 7,000 crore. According to Gupta this is a 'very small fraction' compared to the cost of other similar aircrafts in the world.

The production of aircraft is already underway and two aircraft of the production version of Tejas should be ready by the first half of 2014.

Future aircraft ::

With a 'complete' ecosystem to design and build indigenous aircraft in place, the DRDO is now working on making advanced medium combat aircraft with twin engines.

Original link to the article- http://defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.aspx?id=1hu9w83pZqI=