Hindustan Aeronautics carries out first flight of LCA SP-21
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) completed the maiden flight of the first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in Final Operational Clearance standard SP-21 in Bangalore on 17 March.
The aircraft took off from HAL Airport and was airborne for 40 minutes, the company announced in a statement on Twitter.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to procure 140 Tejas LCAs to equip seven squadrons. The service is currently operating 18 of the 123 aircraft it has ordered so far.
Tejas is capable of being refuelled air-to-air and the aircraft is armed with a Derby beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) system.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Anduril UK and GKN Aerospace collaborate on British Army ACP bid]()
Anduril UK and GKN Aerospace collaborate on British Army ACP bid
The pair will submit their demonstrator concept for Project Nyx, a development project for the British Army’s Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform.
-
![US Army command’s Picatinny CLIK common lethal drone interface makes progress]()
US Army command’s Picatinny CLIK common lethal drone interface makes progress
The Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit is designed to overcome the issue of unique integration methods between lethal payloads and drones as well as avoiding problematic acquisition conditions created by vendor lock.
-
![Australia invests extra A$1.4 billion in MQ-28A Ghost Bat after successful missile fire test]()
Australia invests extra A$1.4 billion in MQ-28A Ghost Bat after successful missile fire test
The investment includes new contracts for six MQ-28A Ghost Bat aircraft, as well as provisional funds to invest in the development of a Block 3 prototype.
-
![US approves potential $4.7 billion missile and air defence system sales to Denmark and Italy]()
US approves potential $4.7 billion missile and air defence system sales to Denmark and Italy
Italy could field the JASSM-ER for its combat aircraft including the F-35, while Denmark has been approved for AMRAAM and an Integrated Battle Command system procurement.
-
![Northrop Grumman to fly new Project Talon CCA by late 2026]()
Northrop Grumman to fly new Project Talon CCA by late 2026
The newly unveiled collaborative combat aircraft looks to strike a balance between capability and cost-effectiveness, according to the company.
