INS Hansa (Goa): In the final phase of its
tests before formal commissioning, India`s indigenous light
combat aircraft Tejas went past its ultimate speed of 1,350
KMPH over the Goa skies and clocked the fastest speed ever, a
top IAF officer said on Tuesday.
"The aircraft went past its ultimate speed of 1350 kmph
on December 7 over the skies in Goa after take off from the
naval air station INS Hansa," Commander Rohit Varma, project
director (flight test), National flight test centre, told
reporters here.
"This is the fastest speed ever achieved by an Indian-
made fighter aircraft," he said.
The aircraft also passed flight flutter test diving from
an altitude of four kilometers to almost sea level at 900
feet.
"Tejas has already passed high-altitude tests in Leh, the
desert rigours in Rajasthan and now it has proved its worth
over the maritime space in Goa," Varma said.
The IAF has already ordered 20 LCAs from HAL at a
contract worth Rs 2701.70 crore. The fighters are to be
delivered by 2013.
The LCA, a project of aeronautical development agency
(ADA) is the first supersonic fighter craft manufactured
indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The aircraft will have naval and Indian air force
version, of which the latter is undergoing testing at Goa
naval base.
"It can fly from a base and also from an aircraft
carrier," P S Subramanyam, Programme Director (Combat
aircraft) and director, ADA, said.
The officials confirmed that the naval version of the
aircraft would be attached to aircraft carrier Gorshkov once
the aircraft is inducted for operations.
Subramanyam said the LCA-naval will have capability to
take off from ski jump platform of aircraft carriers. "The
development of the naval version is progressing very fast.
There are few glitches but we will overcome them."
The IAF is likely to base the lightweight multi-role jet
fighters at Sulur in Coimbatore. "They are earmarked for
squadron no 45, which will be the first LCA squadron," Varma
said.
The HAL has manufactured four aircraft which are being
put under rigorous testing by fighter pilots.
Varma said a team led by Captain Jaydeep Malawankar was
testing the aircraft before their induction into the defence
force.
Air vice Marshal Shankar Mani told reporters that the
first consignment of four aircraft would be delivered by
January 2011, followed by eight aircraft in 2012 and another
eight in 2013.
PTI
