LCA PV2 flight test with listening pod successful

Bangalore, Dec 11 (UNI) Moving a step closer to operationalisation, the indigenously developed and built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas crossed a significant milestone with the successful flight test of LCA PV2 fitted with the listening pod.

The flawless flight test took place at 1630 hrs yesterday with the listening pod, which provides the pilot with day and night pictures of terrain, laser ranging and laser spot seeking (LDP) facilities, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) said in a release here today.

Piloted by Test Pilot Wg Cdr N Tiwaari of the National Flight Test Centre, the aircraft in the very first attempt, successfully tested the LDP. Carriage of the LDP lent a significant precision striking capability to Tejas in conjunction with laser guided bombs which were commonly referred to as 'smart bombs', the release said.

It said Test Director Wg Cdr M Prabhu, Deputy Project Director J J Tiwari and Project Director (Systems) R S Rao were at the telemetry station, monitoring the performance of the aircraft. The system performed as per the design, the release said.

The LCA team, including representatives from the IAF, HAL Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification and the Director General of Aircraft Quality Assurance, were also present.

UNI