Looks like foreign air shows just can't get enough of the Light Combat Aircraft! After being listed erroneously as part of the flying displays during 2007's Paris Air Show and the MAKS-2007 in Moscow last August, the oblivious Tejas has been officially designated as part of the "equisite product display" at the ILA Berlin Air Show from May 27-June 1 at which India is official country partner. I remember the massive disappointment last year when HAL announced that the product display was indeed incorrect, and that there was no way the LCA was in any position to be ferried to France and back at such a critical phase of development.Well, I hate to break it to you again – the Tejas isn't going to Germany either. I just spoke to the HAL spokesperson, who has confirmed that the LCA will not be present at the Berlin Air Show.
HAL is instead sending three Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH Dhruv) which will be available for demonstration flights. The people at the Berlin Air Show are wrong again – the IJT Sitara trainer will also give the show a miss. I truly hope there's some headway where the Dhruv is concerned. Not only is it HAL's most visible product, but also the one with the filthiest luck.
Other participants from India include DRDO, BEL, BDL, BHEL, OFM, MDNL, ISRO, BrahMos, L&T, Tata Power, Tata Advanced Materials, Accord Software & Systems, Saraswati Dynamics and CADES.
Photo Courtesy HAL