Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chairman R Madhavan said on Thursday that HAL has set a March 2022 deadline to conduct the first flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A after winding up the designing activities.
“The preliminary design review is over and so is the critical design review for several systems, including mission computer, a digital map generator and digital flight control systems. We are integrating the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the electronic warfare suite on the final operational clearance (FOC) version of the LCA. After it is proven there, we will integrate it on the final Mk-1A version,” Madhavan said.
He further said that HAL was working with Aeronautical Development Agency on software development for the Mk-1A jet. “This is for all the software that has to be changed in the Mk-1A aircraft because of new systems coming in. We plan to carry out the first flight of the aircraft by March 2022 and get the certification from the Center of Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) by mid-2023 before kicking off production,” HAL chairman said.
As per the schedule, HAL should provide the Indian Air Force with the first two aircraft in 2024, eight in 2025, and the remaining in 2029 at the rate of 14 to 16 fighter jets every year.
