India has flight tested an advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) suite for its indigenous Tejus Light Combat Aircraft program.
The EW suite developed by Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), flew for the first time onboard the first Tejas prototype aircraft on Saturday.
The EW suite consist of Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and jammer. The Jammer gives the pilot an additional capability of nullifying the effect of detected Radar threat by appropriate mode of jamming. Existing EW systems fitted on various combat aircraft consist only the RWR, that provide warning to the aircraft pilot in case of detection of a Radar threat.
The suite performed flawlessly and detected Radar signals operating in and around the flight path.
Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed order for 20 Tejas fighters in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration and 20 more Aircraft in Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration.
Tejas achieved IOC in December 2013 and FOC is likely to be achieved by end of 2015. The first of the IOC standard aircraft has been built and successfully completed its maiden flight on 30th September 2014. This aircraft will be handed over to IAF by March 2015 after some upgrades.
The second aircraft will also be ready by March 2015 for maiden flight. The first 20 aircraft will be built by 2017-18.
