HAL conducts ground run of first limited series LCA

Bangalore, Feb 6 (UNI) In a significant step towards India's foray into the fighter jet programme, the first ground run of the Limited Series Production Aircraft (LSP-1) of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was conducted successfully at HAL's production facilities in Bangalore complex yesterday.

HAL, in a release here today, said the ground run of the LSP-1 was a major event in production programme running concurrently with the development of prototypes. The aircraft had undergone extensive ground testing of various systems, before undertaking this event.

During the ground run, the aircraft functioned very well as per the specifications. LCA production team would be producing seven more aircraft in addition to LSP-1 under the production plan by 2008.

In a chat with newspersons here, HAL Bangalore Complex Managing Director A K Saxena said the remaining seven of the limited series production and the 20 initial order LCAs would roll out once in every six months. HAL was pushing forward the project so that the initial operational clerance was obtained fast.

Referring to the first LSP, he said it would start flying in another 15 to 20 days. The LCA Limited Series production was on target.

As per a contract signed between HAL and the Indian Air Force in 2006, the first batch of 20 series production aircraft would start rolling out of the HAL facilities from 2009-10. A production rate of eight aircraft per year was planned, HAL said.

Five developmental LCAs were currently being tested and they have completed more than 600 flights put together, it added.

UNI