HAL Chairman Co-pilots LCA Tejas, Experiences Simulated Missile Launch

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) T Suvarna Raju, flew the locally-made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas from HAL Airport in Bangalore today. 

The twin seat variant of LCA (PV5) was piloted by Group Captain KK Venugopal, VM (Retd) HAL’s Chief Test Pilot.

“In a thrilling set of manoeuvres, the aircraft climbed to 30,000 feet and accelerated to supersonic speed of 1.1 Mach followed by a simulated launch of Beyond Visual Range missile on a target of opportunity,” said Mr Raju after the sortie.

The pilot demonstrated the prowess of the aircraft to attack targets on ground which was carried out by a simulated laser guided bomb.

The landing was carried out simulating low visibility conditions using the ‘automatic approach’ mode of the aircraft.

In order to ensure the speedy deliveries of LCAs, HAL is in talks with IAF for production of 83 more LCAs with upgraded capabilities known as Tejas Mk 1A.