Tejas aircraft in final trials at Pokhran

Pokhran, which witnessed India's nuclear might, is now witnessing a different scene: indigenous Tejas fighter jets are demonstrating their fire power.

Tejas, indeginously built single-seat, single-engine, lightweight, high-agility supersonic fighter aircraft, is currently undergoing flight trials and firing tests here since Sunday in preparation for its operational clearance.

The current trial of Tejas in Chandan, Pokhran firing ranges of Jaisalmer district, is part of the final operational trials (FOC) and will continue for two days. The Tejas is planned to be cleared for operational service by late mid 2013. The light combat aircraft design and development programme is being led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the department of defence with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the prime industrial contractor.

"Three of these Tejas aircraft have been taking off from forward Air Force bases to pound on an area with a variety of armaments - from precision guided bombs to conventional bombs weighing up to 500 kg during the tests. These exercises constitute the most important phase ahead of the aircraft's formal induction by the Indian Air Force and are intended to ensure that the bombs are released and hit targets on the ground with accuracy," an official source said. Teams of specialists from DRDO and HAL have already reached the firing range to conduct those tests.

"The IAF officially accepted its first Tejas fighter on March 21, 2011. The Tejas is planned to be cleared for operational service by this year end. The initial weapon tests including bombing begun at Pokhran firing range last year. Tejas' final operational clearance has reportedly been delayed till mid-2013 or later," defence spokesperson Col S D Goswami said.

A total of 40 Tejas LCA Mk 1 aircraft are on order. There are plans to order LCA Mk 2 aircraft for 10 more squadrons (about 180 total aircraft) after completing production of LCA Mk 1, he said.

"Tejas is a major modern Light combat aircraft that have been contracted for induction into IAF.The cost of procurement of the Tejas light combat aircraft is about Rs 8,861 crore. The design and manufacture of modern combat aircraft involves development of very high and sophisticated technology skills. HAL is manufacturing the light combat aircraft for IAF," he added.