Why in news
The rear fuselage for the LCA Tejas Mk1A, manufactured by Alpha Tocol Engineering Services, was handed over to HAL.
The fuselage is a key part of the aircraft, holding the pilot and supporting the tail section.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a milestone in India’s self-reliance in defense and public-private partnerships.
12 rear fuselages have already been produced by HAL for the LCA Mk1A.
The integration of the private sector-supplied fuselage helps HAL meet future delivery targets for the Indian Air Force (from 2025-26 onwards).
Rajnath Singh visited the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), focusing on pilot training and medical evaluations.
He inspected advanced training simulators, including flight and high-G training equipment.
Singh launched the ‘Indian Council of Medical Research Extramural Research Project: Centre for Advanced Research’.
LCA-Mk1A
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was started by the Government of India in 1984 when they established the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to manage the LCA programme.
LCA Tejas was designed and developed by India’s HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited).
It replaced the ageing Mig 21 fighter planes.
It was in 2003 that the Light Combat Aircraft programme was named ‘Tejas’ (meaning radiance in Sanskrit) by the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
It is the second supersonic fighter jet that was developed by HAL (the first one being HAL HF-24 Marut).
LCA Tejas is a single-engine multirole light combat aircraft.
It is the lightest and smallest multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
It is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided, and standoff weaponry.
Tejas has a single-engine, compound Delta wing, and has a tailless design.
The idea behind the LCA programme was to expand and develop India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities.
Since the 1970s, the MiG 21 planes were the mainstay of the Indian Air Force.
The primary goal of the LCA programme was to replace the ageing MiGs.
The secondary goal was the advancement of indigenous domestic aviation capabilities.
HAL plans to deliver 123 Tejas aircraft to the Indian Air Force by 2024-25.
Importance of Aerospace Medicine
Ensuring pilot safety and endurance: With India becoming the fastest-growing aviation market, research in high-altitude medicine is critical for both civil and military aviation.
Space has emerged as a critical domain in modern warfare, and India must develop expertise in aerospace medicine to prepare for future challenges.
Astronauts face complex medical issues such as microgravity effects, radiation exposure, and psychological stress, which require advanced aerospace medical interventions.
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