Asia-Pacific Staff New Delhi

In a clear confidence-building measure amidst chronic delays, India's homegrown Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will be deployed for the first time in an air force exercise, code-named Iron Fist, over the Thar Desert in western India. Essentially a demonstration of air-delivered firepower, Iron Fist will see the Tejas for the first time fire air-to-air and strike weapons while flying in battlefield conditions with other Indian air force (IAF) aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000H, Jaguar, MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29. Saddled with delays in a critical envelope expansion effort, the Tejas is looking to achieve the second phase of initial operational clearance by June, with a final operational capability and squadron service in 2015.

During Iron Fist, a limited series Tejas—one of eight such aircraft, with the eighth to fly next month—will deploy the R-73 close combat air-to-air missile and a series of laser-guided bombs. A day/night exercise, it will be the first time the IAF gets to fly the Tejas in a fully operational environment, including its surveillance and space assets. The IAF is also eager to test the aircraft's EL/M-2052 radar in an environment with other aircraft and targets. Series production of the Tejas is set to begin next year.

“There is confidence in the Tejas now. Scheduled to be inducted into a newly raised squadron in the Sulur air base [in southern India] in 2015, the IAF was keen to field the Tejas in this year's firepower demonstration to get a feel of how it operates in real conditions. Accordingly, it was decided to invite the program to participate,” said an IAF officer on detachment to fly at the Iron Fist exercise.

In its final configuration, which needs to be proven before 2014, the Tejas will deploy the R-77 and Derby Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAMs) and the Python-5 close combat missile. Once ready, India's Astra BVRAAM will also be part of the Tejas weapons package. The missile is scheduled for a first firing from the air this year.

“The LCA is ready for operational conditions. We've waited for an opportunity like this to demonstrate how easily it will fit in with the IAF's existing strength. We look forward to operating with other pilots and aircraft types for the first time. It will go a long way toward establishing confidence in the platform. There's no substitute for that ahead of squadron service,” says a senior test pilot with the National Flight Test Center, currently pushing the Tejas toward final operational clearance.

To achieve initial operational capability, the Tejas program will need to expand the platform's angle of attack, g-tolerance and weapons capability. Additionally, the Tejas needs to complete test points in all-weather operations, lightning clearance and wake-penetration. Though slowed by critical delays, the program marked 2,000 accident-free flights earlier this month.

“The delay in delivery is a problem. It needs to be speeded up to ensure that there are no further delays in delivery to the IAF,” India Defense Minister A.K. Antony said this month. In its latest round of trials, the Tejas completed a series of high-altitude tests at the Leh air base in northern India in January. IAF Air Chief Marshal Norman Browne indicated earlier this month that the trials had not been entirely successful, and that the platform's engine didn't perform as expected.