Govt sources told ANI that the HAMMER missiles are in the process of being integrated with Tejas & will enhance aircraft's capability to take out hardened targets from stand-off distances.
Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd), who turns 80 Sunday, also became the oldest man to have flown the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas after a flight in February 2020.
The tech is an offshoot of On-Board Oxygen Generation System project for medical grade oxygen generation on board Tejas. India is the 4th country to develop this.
Python-5 missile live firing was conducted to validate target engagement from all aspects & beyond visual ranges. In all live firings, missiles hit the aerial target, said official.
Although several major air forces like France, Germany and the US are still inducting or ordering fourth-generation fighters, their capabilities and threats are distinct from India’s.
Upgrades would include more better radar & integration of electronic warfare abilities. Russia also hopeful of inking deal with India to supply 12 more Su-30 MKIs and 21 MiG-29s.