Indigenous combat jet flies with improved engine

New Delhi: India’s indigenously developed combat jet Tejas has made its maiden flight with an improved engine, it was announced here Thursday. “During the 44-minute flight, the F404-GE-IN20 engine demonstrated full aircraft system and instrumentation functionality, climbed to numerous mission altitudes, achieved Mach 1.1 speed and established the engine performance baseline for future flight-testing,” a GE statement here said.
“The engine has performed extremely well during all phases of testing, and we look forward to delivering the benefits of -IN20 power throughout the remainder of the rigorous program,” Tony Mathis, general manager of the F404/F414 programme, said in the statement.
Delivery of initial production engines is earmarked to Tejas manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) later this year, where they will be readied for aircraft installation.
Flight-testing is expected to continue into 2009 under the direction of Bangalore’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), with three aircraft scheduled for flight in the third quarter of 2008, the statement said.
HAL ordered an additional 24 F404-GE-IN20 afterburning engines to power the first operational squadron of Tejas fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force in February 2007.
19/06/08 IANS/Thaindian.com, Thailand

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Categories: New Jun 2008