Light Combat Aircraft
Made-in-India ASTRA missile fired from Tejas for the first time
The Indian Ministry of Defence has announced that one of its limited series production Tejas Mk 1 light combat aircraft successfully launched an ASTRA all-weather BVRAAM for the first time during a test off the coast of Goa in southwest India on August 23
PAS 23: Leonardo, Nexter to develop new 20mm gun pod for M-346FA
During the Paris Air Show, Leonardo and Nexter (a subsidiary of KNDS) announced the launch of a joint development programme that aims to introduce a new 20mm gun pod on the M-346FA (Fighter Attack) – the armed variant of the former’s M-346 Master advanced jet trainer family
Raytheon to outfit KAI’s FA-50 with new PhantomStrike radar
Raytheon Technologies announced on May 15 that it will outfit South Korea’s FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft with its new PhantomStrike radar, after the US government gave its approval for the system to be exported as a Direct Commercial Sales product to the platform’s original equipment manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries
Indian Tejas and MiG-29K fighters land on INS Vikrant for the first time
The Indian Navy has recently marked a major milestone in the extensive aviation trials currently being conducted by the service’s first indigenously designed, developed and manufactured aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant (R11), after Indian Naval Test Pilots landed two different fighter types on the vessel for the first time
KAI unveils first FA-50 for Polish Air Force
Korea Aerospace Industries has published images of the first FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft to be rolled out sporting the colours of the Polish Air Force, which is set to receive 48 examples of the type in the near future
HAL Tejas snubbed as Malaysia opts for KAI FA-50
In what was a close race between the Indian-made HAL Tejas and KAI’s FA-50 Fighting Eagle, it has been revealed that Malaysia will acquire 18 examples of the latter to fulfil the requirements set out in its Fighter Lead In Trainer-Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) tender
Czech Air Force receives final upgraded L-159 ALCA
Aero Vodochody announced on January 19 that the last of 16 single-seat L-159 ALCA to undergo the planned prescribed periodic work after 16 years of operation (PP16) overhaul has been returned to operational Czech Air Force service
Belarusian Yak-130 crashes in Baranovichi
A Yakovlev Yak-130 belonging to the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence Forces crashed near a residential area in Baranovichi on May 19, killing both pilots
First modernised L-39C returned to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Air Defence Force capabilities have been enhanced following the recent return of at least one Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros training/light combat aircraft, after completing a modernisation process
HAL receives Indian Air Force Tejas LCA contract
Hindustan Aeronautics has been awarded an INR₹457bn (US$6.4bn) contract by the Indian government to manufacture and deliver 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force