The crew that took part in the two week trial of the prototype of the Light Combat Aircraft `Tejas’ at an Air Force base under the Western Air Command.
The Tejas team included specialist groups from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Central for Military Air Worthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and DG-AQA.
The Indian Air Force teams working at ADA and the Air Force base where the trials were conducted have contributed significantly for the success of the trial.
With this milestone achieved, the entire Tejas team is upbeat and the Tejas is one step closer to induction into the Indian Air Force, the DRDO said in a note.
Source: India Syndicate
It has taken more than 20 years to develop Tejas for its operational deployment in the year 2010 with IAF. It is shame that India has taken so much of time to develop an aircraft of this nature. It is a light aircraft to be used only for the purpose of Local defense of a city or establishment. The time India has taken to develop Tejas, the aircraft will get outdated and become obsolete by the time it is deployed & put on actual duty with the IAF.
The same thing happened with HF24 fighter aircraft built by HAL,which was decommissioned soon after its deployment in the squadrons of the Indian Air Force. This also gives an impression that India does not have the proper facilities to develop a fighter aircraft.
India has the technical capabilities and finances but it lacks total leadership towards building any new aircraft. India should infuse young blood into HAL if it has to come up to world standard. Presently it is very low and are not capable of producing good aircraft . Even China has developed its own good fighter aircraft and supplied to Pakistan.
Hats off to HAL team who have stepped to the next era of advanced striking capability aircraft.
I am sure the upcoming version will satisfy our dreams.
Enjoy India.
With love from Raj