In a significant milestone for India’s defense aviation, the indigenous Digital Fly by Wire Flight Control Computer (DFCC) was successfully tested on the Tejas Mk1A aircraft. On February 19, 2024, the prototype LSP7, equipped with the newly developed DFCC, completed its maiden flight, marking a pivotal moment in the Tejas Mk1A program.
The DFCC, a product of the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru, is designed to enhance the aircraft’s performance with its advanced computational capabilities and safety features.
The state-of-the-art DFCC integrates a Quadraplex Power PC-based processor, a high-speed autonomous state machine based I/O controller, and boasts enhanced computational throughput.
It also features complex on-board software that complies with DO178C Level-A safety requirements. The successful integration and testing of the DFCC have demonstrated satisfactory performance across all critical flight control parameters.
Wing Commander Siddarth Singh KMJ (Retd), from the National Flight Test Centre, piloted the Tejas LSP7 during its landmark flight. His expertise contributed significantly to the testing process, ensuring that the aircraft and its newly integrated systems performed as expected.
The Tejas Mk1A, an advanced version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), has been operationalized by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and boasts several improvements over its predecessor.
These enhancements include an advanced mission computer, the DFCC Mk1A, Smart Multi-Function Displays (SMFD), an Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, an Advanced Self-protection Jammer, and an Electronic Warfare Suit, among others. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under the Department of Defence R&D and the Ministry of Defence, has successfully type-certified the Tejas LCA.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has praised the collaborative efforts of the DRDO, IAF, ADA, and the industries involved in developing and testing the DFCC for the Tejas Mk1A.
He highlighted this achievement as a significant step towards achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbharata) in defense technology and reducing dependence on special imports.
The Secretary of DDR&D and Chairman of DRDO also extended their congratulations to the teams responsible for the successful flight test. This achievement is seen as a major boost to the confidence in delivering the Tejas MK1A to the IAF within the stipulated timeframe, further strengthening India’s defense capabilities and its commitment to indigenization in defense technology.
