HAL Tejas

This is a timeline of the development of the HAL Tejas, a light-weight, multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

1980s

1983

  • The DRDO obtains permission to initiate a programme to design and develop a light combat aircraft.

1984

1985

  • IAF submitted Air Staff Requirements (ASR) for LCA in October 1985. This was initiated by the then Air Chief Marshal Idris Hassan Latif.

1986

  • Government allocates ₹5.75 billion (equivalent to ₹78 billion or US$980 million in 2023) for the LCA programme.
  • Programme to develop an indigenous powerplant (engine)-Kaveri[1] was launched at GTRE.

1987

  • Project definition commenced in October 1987 with French Dassault-Breguet Aviation as consultants.[1] Dassault-Breguet were to assist in the design and systems integration of the aircraft, with 30 top-flight engineers reported to have flown to India to act as technical advisers to IADA, in exchange for $100m.[2][3]

1989

  • Government review committee expresses confidence in LCA programme. It was decided that the programme will be carried out in two phases.

1990s

1990

  • Design of LCA was finalised as a small delta winged relaxed static stability aircraft.
  • Phase 1 of the development was commenced to create the proof of concept system. Financial problems within India prevented full scale operations from starting.

1993

  • Full funding started from April 1993 full-scale development work for phase 1 started in June.

1995

  • First technology demonstrator, TD-1, rolled out on 17 November 1995 and was followed by TD-2 in 1998. However, technical problems in flight control systems and structural deficiencies plagued the prototypes and they remained grounded.

1997

  • Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) for LCA design work started at HAL's Hyderabad division and the LRDE.

2000s

2001

  • 4 January – LCA's maiden flight successfully completed by Technology Demonstrator TD-1, on 2001. Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee renames LCA as Tejas.
  • Development assistance sought from Snecma on the Kaveri engine.[4]

2002

  • 6 June – TD-2 makes a successful maiden flight.
  • MMR system was reported to be not working as per the criteria laid down in requirements.

2003

  • Tejas crossed the sonic barrier for the first time[1]
  • 25 November – PV-1 makes a successful maiden flight.

2005

  • 1 December – PV-2 makes a successful maiden flight.

2006

  • 31 March - Indian Government places an initial order for twenty LCA Tejas from HAL, for delivery by December 2011. The order comprised 4 twin seat trainers, and 16 single seat LCA.[5]
  • 14 May – The PV-2 went supersonic again, but this time in a weaponised state (i.e., carrying weapons such as missiles and an internal gun).
  • 1 December – The 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. The PV-3 was equipped with a more advanced pilot interface, refined avionics and higher control law capabilities compared with the previous versions.

2007

  • 25 April – The first Limited Series Production LCA (LSP-1) made its first flight and it reached a speed of Mach 1.1.
  • PV-2 and PV-3 underwent sea-level trials at INS Rajali Naval Air Station, Arakkonam to study the effects of flying at sea-level, as all earlier trials have been conducted at Bangalore which is 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea-level.[6][7] The reliability of the LCA systems under the hot and humid conditions, as well as low level flight characteristics was tested.[8][9] It is due to this intense flight testing schedule that the LCA was not able to fly at the Paris air show-2007, as was originally planned.[10]
  • 7 September – Tejas Prototype Vehicle (PV-1) made a successful maiden flight with two 800-litre drop tanks.[11][12]
  • 25 October – Tejas PV-1 fired a Vympel R-73 missile for first time. The trials were conducted off the Goa coast at INS Hansa Naval Air Station.[13]
  • 11 December – LITENING targeting pod was successfully tested on Tejas PV-2.[14]

2008

HAL Tejas high-altitude trials at Leh successfully completed by December 2008.
  • 7 February – Tejas Prototype Vehicle (PV-1) made a successful flight powered by fuel from two 800-litre drop tanks. It made a 1-hour-24-minute-long sortie. On internal fuel LCA can perform a 40-minute sortie.[15]
  • April – First flight with HMDS[16]
  • May – LCA Tejas prototypes PV-2 and PV-3 underwent hot weather flight trials at Air Force Station, Nagpur from 28 May 2008 to 4 June 2008. The trials were declared successful.
  • 16 June – Tejas second Limited Series Production LCA (LSP-2) made its first flight and it reached a speed of Mach 1.1.
  • 7 November – LCA Prototype Vehicle-3 made its first successful night flight.[17]
  • 13 December – PV-3 and LSP-2 completed the high-altitude trials at the Leh air base.[18]
Twin-seater trainer version prototype under construction at HAL LCA Tejas division, Bengaluru for structural coupling test.

2009

  • 22 January – Tejas completed 1000 flights.[19]
  • February – the live bombs test were successfully carried out.[20]
  • October – PV-3 and LSP-2 completed visual target elimination and air-to-ground weapons delivery trials.[21]
  • 26 November – Two seater (Trainer) version of Tejas(PV-5) made its maiden flight on 26 Nov 2009.[22]
  • 7 December – Tejas passed flight flutter test diving from an altitude of four kilometers to almost sea level at 900 feet (270 m). Tejas recorded a speed over 1350 km/h. These tests were conducted at INS Hansa, Goa.[23]
  • 15 December – Indian government sanctioned Rs 80 billion to begin production of the fighter jet for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.[24]

2010s

2010

  • 23 April – LCA Tejas LSP-3 Makes Maiden Flight. LSP-3 is almost the final configuration including the new air-data computers, Hybrid Multi Mode Radar, new communication and navigation equipment and radar warning receiver. With this the LCA programme has completed 1350 test flights logging about 800 flying hours.[25]
  • 2 June – LCA Tejas LSP-4 Makes maiden flight. The flight marks the first time for a Tejas aircraft flying in the configuration that will be finally delivered to the Indian Air Force.[26] In addition to the Hybrid MMR, the aircraft also flew with a functioning Countermeasure Dispensing System[27]
  • 19 November – LCA Tejas LSP-5 Makes Maiden Flight. Goes supersonic in first flight.[28]
  • 23 December - Indian Government orders twenty additional LCA Tejas, from HAL, for delivery by December 2016. The order stipulated four additional trainers, and 16 single seat LCA.[5]

2011

  • 10 January – Certification for the Release to Services with assured safety and specified performance for IOC.[29]
  • 26 January – LCA Tejas participates in the 26 January Republic Day Celebrations by being paraded at New Delhi.
  • September – LCA Tejas undergoes bombing runs at Pokhran Test Range.
Tejas Trainer at 62nd Republic Day of India Parade, New Delhi

2012

  • 9 March – LCA Tejas LSP-7 Makes Maiden Flight[30]
  • 27 April – 1st Naval LCA prototype NP-1 makes maiden flight.[31]
  • 27 June – HAL Tejas (LSP 2, 3 and 5) completed precision bombing runs in the desert of Rajasthan, for the second time.[32]

2013

  • 31 March 2013 – LSP 8 had a successful maiden test flight at Bangalore.[33]
  • 28 September – The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas successfully completed the maiden engine relight test on Friday—a critical parameter the programme needs to achieve for the Initial Operational Clearance 2 (IOC-2). The Limited Series Production (LSP-7) aircraft from the Tejas flight-line, piloted by Gp Capt R R Tyagi, underwent the engine relight test at 1 pm. The LSP-7 was chased by a Hawk aircraft.[34]
  • 20 December – Indian Defence Minister A. K. Antony handed over the "Release to Service Document" of the country's own Light Combat Aircraft to the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne.[1]

2014

  • 28 May 2014 – LSPs 3, 5 and 7 successfully complete advanced weapons trials.[35]

2015

  • 17 January – IAF gets first indigenously built light combat aircraft Tejas – The LCA Tejas Series Production-1 (SP1) was handed over by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Arup Raha in Bengaluru on Saturday.[1]
  • 7 February – First flight of the Naval prototype (NP-2) with ski-jump take-off and arrested landing required in STOBAR carrier.[36]
  • 30 September – Decision was taken to start mass-production of the Tejas Mk-1A[37]
  • 1 December – Indian Government announced it will order 100 Tejas Mk-1As for the IAF[38]
  • Late December – Tejas pulls 8g during test flights, clearing a critical flight test parameter towards attaining final operational clearance.[39]

2016

  • 16 January – Tejas makes first overseas flight to participate in the 2016 Bahrain International Airshow.[40]
  • 21 January – Tejas makes international debut at the 2016 Bahrain International Airshow.[41][42]
  • 16 March – MoS for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh said a proposal for ramping up of production of LCA from the present installed capacity of 8–16 aircraft per annum is being processed, and around Rs. 12.59 billion will be spent for the purpose. A case for an additional 80 LCA Mk-1A fighters is also being progressed for placing orders.[43]
  • 1 July – Tejas SP1 and SP2 (Mk. 1) formally inducted into IAF. First squadron of two aircraft raised at Bengaluru; remaining 18 aircraft to be supplied by 2018.[44]
  • 2 December – The Indian Navy rejected Tejas MK1 Navy for being too overweight for carrier operations.[45][46]

2017

  • 12 May – A Tejas successfully fires a Derby Air-to-Air BVR missile, in radar guided mode at Interim Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.[47]

2018

  • 23 July – LCA Navy NP2 flies for the first time with a tail-hook (arresting hook).[48]
  • 2 August – LCA Navy NP2 started taxi in engagement arrester trials.[49]
  • 10 September – Tejas refuels in mid-air for the first time, with 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) fuel transfer from an Ilyushin Il-78MKI.[50]
Ski-jump takeoff of Tejas NP-1 from Shore Based Test Facility, INS Hansa.

2019

  • 20 February – Tejas was awarded Final Operational Clearance.[51]
  • 13 September - Tejas Navy successfully completed arrested landing.[52]
  • 12 November - LCA Navy makes successful night time arrested landing.[53]

2020s

2020

2021

  • 27 April - Tejas has added capability of firing Israeli-origin Python-5 air-to-air missile (AAM).[58]
HAL Tejas (LSP-07) firing Python-5 missile

2022

  • 20 May - First flight of Tejas Mk1-A prototype.[59]

2023

  • 5 April - maiden flight of first production standard LCA Tejas Trainer (LT 5201).[60]
  • 23 August – Maiden firing of indigenous BVR missile Astra.[61]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Milestones – History – Tejas – India's Light Combat Aircraft". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Dassault wins Indian LCA contract". www.flightglobal.com. Flight International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Smith, Chris (2 June 1994). India's Ad Hoc Arsenal: Direction Or Drift in Defence Policy? (1 ed.). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. p. 173. ISBN 019829168X. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "2001 – 0499 – Flight Archive". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Progress in Production of Tejas Aircraft". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Zee News: Latest News Headlines, Current Live Breaking News from India & World". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "NEWKERALA.COM for News, Information & Entertainment Stuff". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "IAF". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Defense19". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  10. ↑ David Donald, India’s Tejas missed the show because of tests, Aviation International News, Paris Air Show, June 2007.
  11. ↑ "Zee News: Latest News Headlines, Current Live Breaking News from India & World". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Tejas Makes Successful First Flight With Stores | Frontier India Defence & Strategic News Service". 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007.
  13. ↑ "Tejas fires its first missile | Frontier India Defence & Strategic News Service". 27 October 2007. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007.
  14. ↑ "Litening pod tested on LCA Tejas | Frontier India Defence & Strategic News Service". 13 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007.
  15. ↑ "Tejas flight, with drop tanks, successful". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 February 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008.
  16. ↑ "Programme Milestones" (PDF). 27 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009.
  17. ↑ "India's Tejas LCA makes maiden flight by night". Archived from the original on 12 December 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ↑ "LCA high-altitude trials at Leh successful: DRDO". The Times of India. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  19. ↑ "LCA Tejas crosses 1000 sorties landmark | Frontier India Strategic and Defence - News, Analysis, Opinion". 25 January 2009. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009.
  20. ↑ "Tejas crosses a milestone". The Hindu. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "national – News – msn". Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "Tejas Trainer Makes successful Maiden Flight" (PDF). Ada.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Fighter aircraft Tejas clocks fastest speed during testing - Express India". 12 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009.
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ Shiv Aroor. "LIVEFIST: PHOTOS: LCA Tejas LSP-3 Makes Maiden Flight!". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  26. ↑ "First flight of Tejas aircraft LSP-4". Times of India. 2 June 2010.
  27. ↑ Ajai Shukla. "Tejas boosts test programme". Business Standard.
  28. ↑
  29. ↑ "Tarmak007 – A bold blog on Indian defence: Happy New Year: Takeoff 2011 with Tejas' fireworks! Countdown for IOC begins & ADA says 'all set for Jan 10'". January 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Tarmak007 – A bold blog on Indian defence: Breaking on Tarmak007: Tejas LSP-7 flight successful". 9 March 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  31. ↑ "LCA naval variant's first flight on Friday". Deccan Herald. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Defence News - LCA Completes Successful Bombing Runs". 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012.
  33. ↑ "Tejas LSP-8 makes its maiden flight". The New Indian Express. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  34. ↑ "Maiden engine relight test of Tejas held". The New Indian Express. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  35. ↑ "Advanced Weapon Trials of Tejas Fighter Completed". The New Indian Express. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  36. ↑ "Maiden flight by 2nd prototype of LCA Tejas' naval variant". The Economic Times. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  37. ↑ Sen, Sudhi Ranjan (29 September 2015). "Despite Flaws, India to Induct Tejas Mark 1-A Fighter Aircraft". Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  38. ↑ "Govt to order 100 Tejas aircrafts [sic] for IAF- Business News". www.businesstoday.in. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  39. ↑ "OneIndia Exclusive: Tejas pilots pull 8 'g' and beyond clearing critical FOC point". www.oneindia.com. January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  40. ↑ "Tejas makes History at Bahrain". Business Standard India. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  41. ↑ "Watch: Proud moments for India as LCA Tejas zooms across Bahrain skies". Zee News. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  42. ↑ "Tejas is a pilot's delight". Bharat Shakti. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  43. ↑ "India to double production of LCA Tejas". Business Standard India. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  44. ↑ "After three decades, indigenous Tejas aircraft inducted into IAF". The Indian Express. July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  45. ↑ "Navy rejects Tejas, says 'overweight' fighter does not meet its requirements | India News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  46. ↑ "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
  47. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  48. ↑ Gady, Franz-Stefan (3 August 2018). "Naval Version of India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Successfully Tests Arrestor Hook Capability". The Diplomat. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  49. ↑ "SpokespersonNavy on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  50. ↑ "Tejas completes key midair refueling trial". The Times of India. 10 September 2018.
  51. ↑ Krishnan, Anantha, M (20 February 2019). "Tejas officially given Final Operational Clearance". OnManorama.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  52. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (13 September 2019). "Naval LCA Tejas makes short arrested landing at Goa facility". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  53. ↑ "LCA Navy makes successful night time arrested landing in Goa". www.aninews.in.
  54. ↑ Ananth Krishnan M. "Naval LCA lands on board INS Vikramaditya, scripts history". Manoramaonline. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  55. ↑ "Naval version of Tejas successfully takes off from aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in major feat". LiveMint. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  56. ↑ "HAL conducts maiden flight for advanced LCA Tejas". The Economic Times. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  57. ↑ Anantha Krishnan M. "Big day for IAF, HAL as new Tejas Squadron takes off today". OnManorama. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  58. ↑ "Tejas adds Python-5 air to air missile capability". The Indian Express. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  59. ↑ "Annual Report 2022 - HAL" (PDF). HAL. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  60. ↑ "First series production LCA Tejas trainer carries out first flight". The Economic Times. 6 April 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  61. ↑ @livefist (23 August 2023). "First Astra test-firing from LCA Tejas just happened off India's west coast. The indigenous BVRAAM was fired from LSP-7" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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