HAL sets up second Tejas production line

Read the report here: http://bit.ly/2kVrdDz

Aero India 2017: Tejas SP-4 at striking distance from first flight

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Tejas SP-3 during its Sept 28 maiden flight

Earlier report: http://bit.ly/2dClodV 

Tejas Squadron: Ranga strikes

Gp Capt Rangachari likely to be CO of 1st Tejas Sqn

Read more about No 45 Flying Daggers here: http://bit.ly/28XhxlH

Tejas squadron formation still a distant dream for IAF | First CO posted For No 45 Sqn at ASTE | Engine test bed readied in Sulur

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) wait to induct the Tejas might get bit longer till the four series production (SP) aircraft roll out from the brand new hangars of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). While today’s second initial operational clearance (IOC-2) will signal the end of a grueling wait for the IAF to officially undertake flight evaluation trials, the formation of No 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) earmarked for Tejas might take another two more years. The same squadron last flew the MiG 21 Bison aircraft operating from Naliya (Gujarat), an airfield closer to Karachi. The Tejas squadron will eventually be operating from the Sulur air force base, near Coimbatore.

Sources monitoring the Tejas programme said that, HAL’s promise of delivering the first production variant of Tejas (SP-1) by March 2014 might be little far-fetched. “We hope to have the first aircraft by end by mid of 2014. The first two aircraft (SP-1, SP-2) might not meet our standards for squadron formation as the metal cutting and hardware were done before we froze the IOC-2 test points. We will raise the first Tejas squadron with four aircraft starting from SP-3 to SP-6,” a top source said. The IAF will use SP-1 and SP-2 for evaluation flight to be undertaken by the Test pilots of Aircraft System and Testing Establishment (ASTE). The limited series production variants LSP-7 and LSP-8 too will be used for evaluation flights by IAF.

The IAF has already identified the first Commanding Officer for Tejas Squadron, now part of the ASTE team, but he’s yet to fly the Tejas. More officers are expected to join the squadron soon, with only few technicians currently being trained to handle the aircraft. For IAF, the maintainability of Tejas is the most primary concern. “The hardware-related issues need to be fixed first. The software can be upgraded without much delay. The critical factor for any aircraft is its maintainability. Truly speaking, before the IOC event, all hardware must be finalized, which might not still be the case with Tejas,” the source said.

A programme management team from the IAF sits at the Aeronautical Development Agency to ensure that the Tejas comes out as a ‘usable aircraft’ befitting the squadron standards. HAL will deliver first 20 aircraft in IOC configuration and another 20 more in the final operational clearance (FOC) format. Appreciating the safety features of the aircraft, the official said that notwithstanding the delays, the safety features of Tejas was world class. “We are way ahead of F-22, Rafale and Eurofighter. We are very lucky to have a safe Tejas flying today. All other similar programmes had crashes during developmental phase. It is a very creditable achievement,” the official said.

Preparations in Sulur are going as per plans with the engine test bed already being readied. The IAF is awaiting the release of Rs 580 crore from the Ministry of Defence to undertake infrastructure work like taxi tracks, hangars and squadron complex. The IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne on Wednesday (18 December) reviewed the progress of Tejas base in Sulur, during his visit to Thiruvananthapuram.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

ASTE Gets 2-Star Commandant| AVM Nambi checks in | Boon to Tejas: Kota | Right move: Koti |

 By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme is likely to get a boost with the Indian Air Force (IAF) appointing Air Cmdr Raghunathan Nambiar as the Commandant of Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). Nambiar took charge on December 28 as the 20th Commandant of ASTE, picking up his next promotion as an Air Vice Marshal (AVM). Though the IAF is yet to issue an official communication, sources at the Air HQ confirm to Express that, the current ASTE Commandant Air Cmdr B.R. Krishna is now posted to National Defence College for a one-year course.

Nambiar, popularly known as Nambi among the IAF clan, was among the first Test pilots associated with the Tejas programme. During the maiden flight of Tejas on January 4, 2001, it was Nambiar who flew the lead chase Mirage aircraft, keeping a close watch on India's late, but light fighter jet. Tejas was then piloted by Wg Cdr Rajeev Kothiyal, now a commercial pilot and consultant to India's national aircraft programme.

Nambiar takes over the reins of ASTE as an AVM, following the Phase-II recommendations of the A V Singh Committee in 2008, opening up the promotional avenues among higher ranks in the IAF, the Indian Army and the Indian Navy. “The decision to raise the Commandant of ASTE to a 2-Star status (AVM) is part of IAF's rank upgradation process. Totally, six posts of Air Marshal and equivalent, 21 Air Vice Marshal and equivalent, 61 Air Commodore and equivalent and 415 Group Captain and equivalent are in this list,” sources said. The ASTE is among the the seven Test pilot schools in the world and the best one in South Asia.

 Kota Harinarayana

 Rajeev Kothiyal

Reacting to Nambiar's appointment, Kota Harinarayana, father of Tejas programme, felt that the timing was most-appropriate. “He is a brilliant pilot and a person committed to aviation technology. He is coming at a time, when we are talking in terms of creating a Squadron for Tejas. His presence in ASTE will be a boon to the programme,” Kota said.

Nambiar's flying partner during Tejas' early flight test days Wg Cdr (Retd) Rajeev Kothiyal, said that it is for the first time in the ASTE history that a Tejas Test pilot is appointed as the Commandant. “Nambiar is the right person to see that Tejas gets inducted expeditiously into the IAF. His presence will make all the difference in terms of smooth interaction between all the agencies involved with the programme,” he said.

The No 45 Tejas Squadron (Flying Daggers) will be first raised at ASTE in Bangalore, before re-locating it to Sulur in Coimbatore. The IAF pilots are awaiting the user trial version of the aircraft (LSP-7 & LSP-8), currently got stuck in a delayed production module.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)