Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is preparing LCA Tejas to showcase its aerobatic prowess at the upcoming Bahrain International Air Show, to be held between 21 and 23 January, and this indigenous fighter aircraft will test-fire a beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile by March.
LCA Tejas is racing against time to get the final operating clearance (FOC) by mid-2016. But, before getting the FOC, the LCA Tejas team is gearing up to test-fire Derby beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), reported LiveFistDefence.
Derby is a medium range missile from Israel's Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which has been bought as a stopgap arrangement as India grapples to make BVR missile Astra, which is still in development, operational.
Previously, we had seen BVR Astra being fired from the IAF's air-superiority fighter, SU-30MKI.
LCA Tejas will reportedly test-fire the BVR missile somewhere off the Goa coast. The aircraft will feature a fully-integrated multi-mode radar and new quartz radome.
Meanwhile, the Bahrain Air Show will be a big test for LCA Tejas as it will see defence analysts scrutinising the aircraft. The show will also bring up comparison between LCA Tejas and the Pakistani jet fighter, JF-17.
Earlier, Sri Lanka was apparently interested in JF-17, but recent reports suggest otherwise.
