Tejas Mk1A (LA5033) Clears Taxi Trials Yesterday, First Flight Expected Anytime From Today

India's aerospace ambitions took a significant leap forward yesterday as the indigenously developed Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft, designated LA5033, successfully completed low-speed and high-speed taxi trials (LSTT and HSTT).

These trials represent a major step towards the aircraft's highly-anticipated maiden flight, now expected to take place today pending the successful completion of final checks.

Certifying agencies are expressing confidence in LA5033's readiness, boosting optimism for today's potentially historic flight.

Yesterday's taxi trials were piloted by veteran test pilot Group Captain K K Venugopal (Retd), a member of the experienced Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Civil Test Pilot (FW) group.

The successful taxi trials mark a crucial milestone in the development of the Tejas Mk1A, a more advanced and potent variant of the Tejas light combat aircraft.

The aircraft's maiden flight will represent a momentous achievement for India's indigenous fighter jet program, showcasing the nation's growing capabilities in aerospace engineering.

 

[Anurag]

The government source is mentioning what are the specifics of the deal. If that is not obeyed, then it is no one's fault but the manufacturer's. Whether you consider that to be the case or not is immaterial. That's how law would consider it.

The part you mentioned doesn't contradict what I wrote. It in fact reinforces it but mine has more details. The delivery date in the original article is 3 Feb 2024. In your article it says deliveries will start in Feb 2024. So they are perfectly overlapping as 3 Feb 2024 falls in Feb 2024. And that was the time for delivery of all 3 planes so it can be considered as the commencement of the deliveries since the original deal considers deliveries in blocks. 3 in 36 months, and then 16 every 12 months. So whether you deliver all 16 in one go or in batches or individually is immaterial to the contract. The contract will only consider the number at the end of each year. Similarly, it will only consider the numbers delivered on 3 Feb 2024, which falls in Feb 2024.

If ADA and HAL allow the private companies to participate, then only will they get the tender. Ex-ACM and now the ruling party leader ACM Bhadoria is on record saying that ADA and HAL are not letting them get in and it is very important to get the private players on board.

Well I never take the side of hal as I know it's work culture is poor but as per me Mod & IAF is also equally responsible or I will say MOD is the responsible for most of the things!! They kept on stretching the project just for the sack of money and we end up paying a lot extra money then they try to save!! Bureaucracy is just poorly managed...

About the private sector not participating is because of uncertainty among the mod & forces itself just look at the case of L&T, they delivered the k9bajra on time and from that they are just waiting from many years for the further orders. Their line is idle & so is trained workforce and while we can utilise it in better ways but we didn't!!

 

[Akshat]

Well I never take the side of hal as I know it's work culture is poor but as per me Mod & IAF is also equally responsible or I will say MOD is the responsible for most of the things!! They kept on stretching the project just for the sack of money and we end up paying a lot extra money then they try to save!! Bureaucracy is just poorly managed...

About the private sector not participating is because of uncertainty among the mod & forces itself just look at the case of L&T, they delivered the k9bajra on time and from that they are just waiting from many years for the further orders. Their line is idle & so is trained workforce and while we can utilise it in better ways but we didn't!!

No doubt that there are many issues which plague our defense sector, including MoD officials and armed forces. But in this case, and in most others, the sole responsibility lies with HAL. An order has been given and now it is their responsibility alone to deliver which they have failed to do. In this case, from 3 Feb 2021 onwards, no one is responsible but HAL.

In case of Vajra, no one is waiting for anything. It is only media speculation. Army had always been clear that they want only 100 SPHs. That was clearly spelt out in their artillery modernization plan as well as the tender. So if anyone assumed more orders will be placed, it is their fallacy, not army's. Army had spelt it's stance right at the beginning. There is no uncertainty whatsoever. But L&T went ahead and delivered the order before time. HAL on the other hand took the money and then made excuses like small order size etc. That is the issue.