Diwali in Dabolim: Team Tejas ready for fireworks in Goa; drop tank separation, missile test on cards

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | November 29, 2010 |

India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is ready to undergo another round of crucial sea trials in Goa. Sources tell AVIATION WEEK that this time the testing will involve the firing of a missile and the jettisoning of a drop tank. The trials are set to take place this week at Naval Air Station Hansa, Dabolim, in Goa. Tejas successfully completed earlier sea trials in September as part of its Out of Station Flight Test Plan.

Pilots from the Bengaluru-based National Flight Test Center will perform the weapon trials this time. In addition to firing a Russian-made R-73 air-to-air missile, the pilots are scheduled to test the safe drop tank separation from the aircraft. Tejas can carry 5,000 liters of fuel, including 1,200 each in drop tanks [and] 2,400 in wings and fuselage. It can also carry two outboard R-73 missiles and two mid-board beyond visual range (BVR) Derby missiles from Israel.

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