The indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) on April 27, 2021 fired the Israeli-origin Python-5 air-to-air missile (AAM) for the first time.
- The Python-5 missile was test-fired from a Tejas aircraft of the Aeronautical Development Agency.
- The test firing at Goa completed a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios.
- This has paved the way for the short-range missile to be carried on the plane.
- Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby beyond visual range (BVR) AAM on Tejas.
- The Derby missile achieved direct hit on a high-speed maneuvering aerial target and the Python missiles also achieved 100% hits, validating their complete capability.
