India's first operational-standard Tejas light combat aircraft has made its maiden flight from Bangalore, reaching a speed of Mach 1.1.
The Aeronautical Development Agency's (ADA) fourth limited series production aircraft made its debut on 2 June and reached an altitude of 36,000ft (11,000m).
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation says LSP-4 is the first Tejas to have been produced in the configuration that will be inducted into Indian air force service.
The air force has so far committed to buying 40 Mk 1 examples of the Tejas, which is being manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics. Initial operational clearance should be received by December 2010.
The ADA says its nine previous development examples of the Tejas had completed 1,375 test flights by 31 May.
Source: Flight International
