Role of Flight Test in Bridging Technology Gap

Wg Cdr (Retd) PK Raveendran SC (Flight Test Engineer) Group Director (Flight Test), National Flight Test Centre Aeronautical Development Agency, Min of Defence Bangalore, INDIA
Gp Capt RKS Bhadauria VM (Test Pilot) Offg Project Director (Flight Test), National Flight Test Centre Aeronautical Development Agency, Min of Defence Bangalore, INDIA

Abstract

This paper is about design and development of a state of the art light combat aircraft (Tejas) undertaken by the Aeronautical Development Agency in India. The project was unique in more than one way. To start with the project had seemingly divergent objectives.
These were:
a) To design and develop a state of art combat aircraft
b) To bridge the huge technology gap that existed in the aeronautical technology in the country
c) To provide Indian Air Force with a suitable replacement for their aging MiG fleet

Therefore the project adopted a very radical approach of incorporating latest technologies never tested on an aircraft in the Indian industry. This made it technologically and managerially very challenging.

The future of Indian Aeronautical Industry in a sense depended on the success of this project. This evidently put enormous pressure on every group in the project, especially flight test.

In this perspective, the attempt here is to highlight the role of flight test in bridging the technology gap, which was one of the primary objectives of the programme and the approach adopted for risk management to achieve the objectives in a safe and efficient manner.