Tejas Light Combat Aircraft undergoing advanced weapon testing

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is carrying out a two-week second phase weapon testing trials of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at an Air Force base in the north-western sector.

As per DRDO officials

"The focus of the current phase of testing is safe separation and accuracy of weapon delivery. The results from the tests would validate aerodynamic interference data as well as complex weapon release algorithms in different modes of release,"

A composite test team comprising of specialists from Aeronautical Development Agency, Indian Air Force (IAF), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., and other aerospace agencies is also at the base to evaluate the performance of the aircraft.



DRDO has also linked the air base with the base station at Bangalore enabling designers and other specialists to monitor the activities in real time. In parallel the trials are using the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) GPS Radiosonde to gather accurate upper air data at the trial location.

The first of seven squadrons of LCA's are expected to be delivered to the Indian Air Force by December 2010. PTI.