India Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fires R-73 infra-red missile with success.

Tejas, India's first indigenously designed developed and productionised fourth generation plus Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) achieved yet another milestone when an R-73, Russian made infrared air to air missile hit its designated target with precision.

The test, demonstrating required parameters was conducted off the coast of Goa in Arabian Sea, and has taken the aircraft closer to its induction in the Indian Air Force.

Tejas, is build by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is reported to have a requirement for 200 single-seat and 20 two-seat conversion trainers, while the Indian Navy may order up to 40 single-seaters to replace its Sea Harrier FRS.51 and Harrier T.60

Avinash Chander, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence (R and D), congratulating the team, said "with this launch of a missile from Tejas and successfully hitting the target in the first shot, we have demonstrated the total weapon system capability of LCA Tejas".

Tejas has been undergoing weapon release flight tests, for its operational clearance.

As a prelude today, Group Captain Suneet Krishna, flying the Tejas aircraft commanded Infrared seeker missile through the fire control radar of the aircraft to lock on to the target.

The target was towed by a pilotless target aircraft 'Lakshya' also designed and developed by DRDO's another premier lab, 'Aeronautics Development Establishment' (ADE), Bengaluru developed pilotless target aircraft (PTA).

The target mounted on Lakshya was launched by a ship of the Indian Navy off the west coast of India.

A team from the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC), Aeronautical Development Agency, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, ADE (DRDO), CEMILAC, DGAQA and the Indian Navy worked in perfect unison to achieve this feat.