The Hindu : National : Tejas crosses milestone, test-fires combat missile

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Friday, Oct 26, 2007
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National

Tejas crosses milestone, test-fires combat missile

Ravi Sharma

Not an accuracy test, there being no target
Achieved against heavy odds

BANGALORE: The programme to weaponise the indigenous fly-by-wire Light Combat Aircraft Tejas crossed a major milestone on Thursday with a close air combat missile being flawlessly test-fired from the aircraft.

Taking off from INS Hansa, the Naval air station in Vasco (Goa), Prototype Vehicle 1 piloted by the Chief Test Pilot of the National Flight Test Centre Group Captain N Harish, reached an altitude of 6.5 km and a speed of 0.6 mach before the R73 E Russian-made missile was fired in “the autonomous mode” from the aircraft’s left wing tip.

The firing of the ‘find, fire and forget’ air-to-air missile also demonstrated the health and handling of the aircraft during the actual firing, the dealing of unwanted frequencies that occur not just during flutter disturbances and while pulling through G, but even when a missile leaves the aircraft, effects of missile plume on engine air-intake and on composite structures like the wing surface, and missile separation aspects. The structural test proved the successful mating and circuitry between the aircraft and the missile.

However being unguided, the firing was not an accuracy test, there being no target. Also with the missile test-fired in the safest speed and part of the flying envelope, operational clearances will now have to be undertaken at the corner points of the envelope, at low speed-low altitude, low speed-high altitude, high speed-low altitude, high speed-high altitude and under high G conditions.

Speaking to The Hindu minutes after the successful firing, P.S. Subramanyam, Programme Director of the LCA programme, said that the firing of the missile was a clear indication that India is now capable of integrating missiles to a fighter aircraft. “The multi-organisational and multi-dimensional integration and firing of the missile involved aspects such as structures, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, avionics, general systems and propulsion. The LCA team supported by the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, National Aerospace Laboratories, other defence public sector enterprises, the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification have all partnered to demonstrate this integration capability.”

According to Mr. Subramanyam, the autonomous firing of the missile, which was a first for the country, was achieved in the face of great odds.

“Three years ago we were told by the (missile’s) vendor that we will not be able to do it on our own and that only they could demonstrate it for us. They were also not prepared to share information on it. The knowledge that we have now gained will give us the confidence to integrate any missile on any fighter aircraft.”

The next major step is target acquisition and fire control which will however take off only after the multi-mode radar (MMR) is fitted on the aircraft.

The MMR which is being developed with key components from the Israelis could be fitted before the end of the year.

Drop tanks which will enhance the Tejas’ endurance capabilities have been fitted but having sprung a leak they are currently non-operational.

The Rs. 5,500 crore LCA programme has so far undertaken 763 flights, but is still some distance away from its initial and final operational clearances.

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