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World Aviation Defense & Security News - India
 
 
Successful maiden flight for the Indian Tejas PV6 Light Combat Aircraft trainer variant
 
The Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project witnessed yet another milestone with the first flight of its trainer PV6. The two-seater aircraft piloted by Gp Capt Vivart Singh along with Gp Capt Anoop Kabadwal took to the skies on Saturday afternoon. During the 36-minute flight, all systems functioned as expected, according to a release from the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) office.
     
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project witnessed yet another milestone with the first flight of its trainer PV6. The two-seater aircraft piloted by Gp Capt Vivart Singh along with Gp Capt Anoop Kabadwal took to the skies on Saturday afternoon. During the 36-minute flight, all systems functioned as expected, according to a release from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) office in here. India's Tejas PV6 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) trainer variant
     
The aim of the flight was to check the twin cockpit functionality which is similar to series production two-seater aircraft.

PV6 has the capability to deliver air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons as required by the Indian Air Force for the Final Operational Clearance.

The PV6 has absorbed all the major design modifications undertaken during the last 2,500-plus flights in the programme.

This is the final prototype leading to series production trainer, the release stated.

Scientific adviser to the Indian Defence Minister, Dr Avinash Chander, congratulated the Tejas team. “Having achieved success in indigenous design and development of Tejas in both its combat and trainer versions, its production and induction will add new strength to the Make in India campaign,” he said.

PV6 is the 16th Tejas variant to have flown as part of the project. Test Director Commander Jitendra Raturi, Safety Pilot Ritu Raj Tyagi, ADA Director P S Subramanyam, NFTC Chief Test Pilot Cmde J A Maolankar and LCA Navy Project Director Cmde (Retd) C D Balaji were present at the telemetry monitoring centre.