User trial of Tejas only by Dec-Jan

The frugal aircraft can fly from Blore to Jamnagar without a stopover

The trials will be conducted by the Bangalore-based Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), a wing of the IAF.

Speaking to a group of journalists who visited the facility on Wednesday, ASTE Commandant Air Commodore B R Krishna said: “Two of our pilots are already acclimatised to flying Tejas as they have been trained; we can begin the trials once the designated aircraft are handed over to us. We expect this to happen by December or January.”

The designated aircraft are the limited series production aircraft LSP-7 and LSP-8 and the ASTE will also train more pilots to test them.

Krishna had told Deccan Herald in February that the aircraft were due in March-April, but refused to comment on the reasons for the delay in receiving them. The ASTE will evaluate Tejas for compliance with the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements and also enhance some features on the aircraft.

He said Tejas would be put through rigorous testing and pushed to its limits before handing it over to the squadron.

Krishna said most of the weapons systems being integrated onto Tejas were approved, but there would also be some special weapons, details of which are classified information.

Currently, Tejas has a capacity of taking a payload of three tonnes, including additional fuel for its sorties. Described as one of the most frugal aircraft ever to be inducted into the IAF, pilots said it could travel from Bangalore to Jamnagar without a stopover and have comfortable fuel after landing.

Tejas, which will replace the Soviet-era MiG-21 (type 77), is scheduled for final operational clearance by the end of next year.