Tejas

RESEARCH PHASE

DRDO got permission to initiate a programme to design and develop a Light Combat Aircraft. DRDO got permission to initiate a programme to design and develop a Light Combat Aircraft. IAF generated Air Staff Requirements (ASR) for LCA in October 1985. Government allocated Rs. 575 Crores for the LCA programme. Programme to develop an indigenous power plant (engine)- Kaveri was launched at GTRE. Project definition commenced in October 1987 with French aircraft major Dassault Aviation as consultants. Project definition phase completed in September 1988. Government review committee expressed confidence in LCA programme. It was decided that the programme will be implemented in two phases

Design of LCA was completed as a tail-less compound delta winged relaxed static stability aircraft. Phase 1 (Technology Demonstrator) of the development was commenced to create the proof of concept. Full funding approved from April 1993 and development work for phase 1 started in June, 1995. First technology demonstrator, TD-1, rolled out on 17th November, 1996. Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) for LCA design work started at HAL Hyderabad division and LRDE.

4th January, 2001 – the historic first flight of the Technology Demonstrator TD-1 marking a new era in the aviation history of India. 6th June, 2002 - TD-2 made her successful maiden flight. Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee named LCA – "Tejas" meaning Radiance in ancient Indian language Sanskrit. Tejas crossed the sonic barrier for the first time. 25th November, 2003 - PV-1 made her successful maiden flight. 1st December, 2005 - PV-2 made her successful maiden flight. 1st December, 2006 - PV-3 flew for the first time for 27 minutes at an altitude of 2.5 km and at a speed of Mach 0.8. PV-3 was equipped with a more advanced pilot interface, refined avionics and higher control law capabilities compared with the previous versions.

25th April, 2007 - The first Limited Series Production LCA (LSP-1) made her first flight and...