Indigenous flight control system successfully tests on Tejas

New Delhi: Defence ministry said on Tuesday that the indigenously developed digital fly-by-wire flight control computer has been integrated into the Tejas light combat jet. The ministry called it as a "significant development" in the aircraft programme, PTI reported.

"In a significant development towards Tejas Mk1A programme, the digital fly-by-wire flight control computer (DFCC) was integrated into prototype LSP7 and successfully flown on February 19," the defence ministry said.

Tejas, which is also an indigenous craft, is a single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. It has been designed to undertake air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles.

The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, developed DFCC for the Tejas-Mk1A version.

The ministry added that all parameters and performance of the flight controls were found satisfactory. Wing Commander Siddarth Singh KMJ (Retd) of the National Flight Test Centre piloted the maiden flight.

The Indian Air Force has already operationalised Tejas LCA Mk1. The improved version of the aircraft, Tejas MK1A, features an advanced mission computer, high-performance digital flight control computer (DFCC Mk1A), smart multi-function displays (SMFD), advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, advanced self-protection jammer, and electronic warfare suit among others, the ministry said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented joint teams from the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the IAF, ADA and industries involved in the development and successful flight test of this critical system for Tejas Mk1A.

Mr Singh described it as a major step towards 'atmanirbharata' (self-reliance) with a reduced count of special imports.

Tejas aircraft are set to be the mainstay of the IAF. It has already inducted nearly 40 Tejas of initial variants