Tejas, India’s indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA), has been armed. The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday “successfully test-fired” close-combat missile R-73 from the advanced fighter jet at the air-to-air range off Goa coast.DRDO officials said it was a “most significant milestone” with the prototype PV-1 firing from an altitude of 7 km while flying at 0.6 mach. Russian R-73 is an infrared-homing, highly manoeuvrable missile with an effective range of 20 km.“The historic event marks the beginning of weaponisation, which is the focus of the current initial operational clearance phase of the programme,” they said. “The event has proven the capability to integrate and flight-test an advanced missile on Tejas.”Defence Ministry officials said Thursday’s test was designed to validate the missile firing system of the aircraft and met all parameters set by DRDO scientists.Air-to-air missile integration and testing, especially on a fly-by-wire aircraft, is a complex task involving interface with aerodynamics, engine air intake, control laws, flight control system, avionics system, electrical, among others.The first flight of the single seater-single engine supersonic multi-role LCA was conducted in 2001. Indian Air Force sources said a limited version of the fighter—for training and familiarisation purposes—will enter service by 2011 and will be deployed at the Sulur airbase in Tamil Nadu. However, the aircraft will become fully operational only towards the end of 2013.With the project running a decade behind schedule, the IAF has already floated a global tender to acquire 126 new fighter aircraft at an estimated cost of Rs 44,000 crore to meet immediate requirements. The IAF has currently placed an order of 20 LCA fighters with HAL with an option of procuring 20 more.
