From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 10: In a rare trial, the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas LSP8) has successfully completed the Wet (actual) engagement by transferring 1900 kgs fuel from IAF IL78 mid-air refueling tanker in Bengaluru on Monday.

The refueling was carried out at an altitude of 20000 ft. The aircraft speed was 270 knots and all the internal tanks and drop tanks were refueled.

A few days ago, the successful dry docking of aerial refueling probe with mother tanker was carried out on September 4 and 6, 2018.

With this, India joins the elite group of countries who have developed the Air-to-Air (AAR) system for military class of aircraft, said R Madhavan, CMD of HAL.

Piloted by Wing Commandar Siddarth Singh of NFTC, this significant milestone was achieved today at 0930 hrs with designers from HAL and ADA closely monitoring the system parameters from the ground station at Gwalior.

The performance of aircraft systems (mainly Fuel and Flight controls systems) during the trial were in-line with the design requirements and was closely matching with the results of extensive ground tests of air-to-air refueling system.