NEW DELHI: A Tejas Mark-1A prototype flew with the digital fly-by-wire flight control computer (DFCC) for the first time on Monday, just a few days before the deliveries of the “improved” indigenous fighter are supposed to begin to the IAF.
Under the Rs 46,898 crore contract inked with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) in February 2021, 83 Tejas Mark-1A have to be delivered to the IAF in the February 2024-February 2028 timeframe.
Officials admit there is “a slight delay” but say at least two jets are likely to be delivered by March-end, with a few more to follow by year-end.
The defence ministry, on its part, said the DFCC, developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, was integrated in the “Prototype LSP-7” and successfully flown on Monday, which is “a significant development” towards the Tejas Mark-1A programme.
“All critical parameters and performance of the flight controls were found satisfactory,” it said.
The IAF has so far inducted 40 Tejas Mark-1 jets under the first Rs 8,802 crore contract inked with HAL. The improved Mark-1A version of the single-engine jet includes advanced mission computers, high performance DFCCs, smart multi-function displays, advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, advanced self-protection jammers, electronic warfare suites and the like.
The defence acquisitions council in November last year had also accorded acceptance of necessity (AoN) for another 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighters for Rs 67,000 crore. HAL will need to majorly crank up its annual production rate to deliver these 180 Tejas Mark-1A within stipulated timelines.
