| Defence Minister A K Antony today asked scientists to make the home-grown light combat aircraft ‘Tejas’ a success to further the process of indigenisation of the country’s defence system.
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| Addressing scientists at the Aeronautical Development Agency here, Antony, while congratulating them, called on them to make the LCA a success.
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| “The entire country is watching for the day when LCA becomes a success,” the minister said after taking stock of the project which has repeatedly slipped into time and cost overruns.
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| He also emphasised the need for indigenisation of the country’s defence system and felt that the “year 2008 would be crucial”, according to a defence press release. The media was not invited for any of the minister’s engagements here.
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| Antony, who was briefed on the status of the LCA project, witnessed a demonstration flight of Tejas here. Piloted by group captain Harish, the Tejas PV-2 executed skillful manoeuvres such as the 360 degree roll and loop at low speed, tear drop turn, “derry turn”, high ‘G’ turn before flying past the VIP dais in a ‘wrong side up’ (inverted position). This was followed by a display by the Dhruv advanced light helicopters.
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| The minister was given a briefing on the smart technology initiatives.
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| Later, he went to the ADA’s system design and evaluation facility where the minister entered the cockpit simulation facility of Tejas to get a first-hand experience of the pilot’s view.
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| He also toured the ADA’s weapons integration laboratory and the Mobile Telemetry facility at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. |
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