MAIDEN FLIGHT OF LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR-
II SUCCESSFUL
The maiden flight
of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Technology Demonstrator II
was carried out at 1147 hrs in Bangalore today. The flight was
successful and met all test parameters set for the flight. The
flight lasted 28 minutes and is a significant landmark in the
LCA project and marks its entry into the Flight Test Programme.
It may be recalled
that the test flight of LCA Technology Demonstator I had been
successfully carried out on January 4, 2001.
The LCA is an advanced
technology, single seat, single engine, supersonic, lightweight,
all weather, multi-role air superiority fighter designed for air-to-air,
air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat roles.
The purpose of flight
test programme is to validate a number of advanced technologies
incorporated in the LCA. These include unstable configuration,
Quadruplex fly-by-wire Digital Flight Control System, Integrated
Avionics with glass cockpit, advanced composite materials for
primary structure and a novel Utility Systems Mangement System.
The development effort
for the LCA is spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency
(ADA) under the Department of Defence Research & Development.
ADA’s responsibilities include project design, project monitoring
and promoting the development of advanced aeronautic technologies
of relevance to the LCA.
The Defence Minister,
Shri George Fernandes, spoke to the Prime Minister about the successful
flight test on phone. The Prime Minister congratulated the Scientists
of the DRDO on their achievement.
The Defence
Minister Shri George Fernandes has congratulated the scientists
and engineers of the Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited for the successful test flight of Light Combat
Aircraft Technology Demonstrator II. The Minister said that the
test demonstrates the ability of our scientists and engineers
to produce world-class aircraft. Shri Fernandes further expressed
confidence that our technocrats will bring in more and more laurels
to the country and take it towards total self-reliance in Defence
production.
