4th FOC Tejas MK1 takes to Air, Two more planned this month
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) recently conducted a maiden test flight of SP-20, the fourth FOC-Standard Tejas Mk1 fighter jet. The first flight was made a few days back that was piloted by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chief Test Flying (Fixed Wing) Rajeev Joshi (retired). this is the second FOC Tejas MK1 flight that made its maiden test flight this year and HAL plans to complete the first maiden flight of two more FOC-certified SP-21 and SP-22 by end of this financial year after facing delays due to CCP Virus.SP-20 becomes the only third aircraft that has completed its maiden flight for FY2020-21 and SP-21 and SP-22 will make the total count further to 5 aircraft if HAL manages to stick to its March-end commitments for this fiscal, while the target was for 8 FOC-Standard Tejas Mk1 fighter jet for FY2020-21.HAL Chief R.Madhavan is confident that deliveries of the FOC-Standard Tejas Mk1 fighter jet will speed up in the next few months as the supply chain gets stabilized after lockdown. After the 16th FOC-Standard Tejas Mk1 fighter jet is delivered, the HAL facility will be then shifting to manufacturing 18 Tejas Mk1 Trainers, before it begins production of upgraded Tejas Mk1A from 2023 onwards.
SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG.
