LCA Tejas: Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd), who played major role in development of the fighter jet, honoured with Rajyotsava award

Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd), who played a key role in the development and flight testing of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas as the project director at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO from 1994 to 2003, has been honoured with prestigious Rajyotsava award on the occasion of the 70th Karnataka formation day 'Kannada Rajyotsava' on Saturday.

The award consists of a 25 gram gold medal and Rs 5 lakh in cash.

Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd) and Tejas

In September 1994, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was then the director general of ADA, sought Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd) out for the job of overseeing the flight testing of the LCA. He played an important role in ensuring that LCA Tejas advanced from its prototype phase to flight trials.

“I served in the ADA from 1994-2003, during which I set up the National Flight Test Centre,” The Print had quoted him as saying in 2021.

In 2021, at the age of 78, he became the oldest man to fly LCA Tejas. 

He also penned the widely-read  'The Tejas Story: The Light Combat Aircraft Project', which chronicles India's efforts to develop the aircraft.

"A pioneering test pilot and former Commandant, ASTE, he was instrumental in the #Tejas programme as Project Director at Aeronautical Development Agency. A 1965 War veteran and author of The Tejas Story, his contributions embody India’s #Atmanirbharta in defence aviation," the Indian Air Force said in a tweet, congratulating him and acknowledging the role he played in the development of the aircraft.

Defence