Aircraft digital flight-control: Fly-by-wire or FBW system 09/10

The Tejas aircraft digital fly-by-wire or FBW system of the Tejas aircraft employs a powerful digital flight control computer (DFCC) made by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) comprising four computing channels, each with its own independent power supply and all housed in a single LRU.

The LCA also has secure and jam-resistant communication systems such as the IFF transponder or interrogator, VHF UHF radios, and air-to-air or air-to-ground datalinks. The ADA Systems Directorate’s Integrated Digital Avionics Suite (IDAS) integrates the flight controls, environmental controls, aircraft utilities systems management, stores management system (SMS), etc. on three 1553B buses by a centralised 32-bit, high-throughput mission computer.

The LEVCONs are control surfaces that extend from the wing-root leading edge and thus afford better low-speed handling for the LCA, which would otherwise be slightly hampered due to the increased drag that results from its delta-wing design. As an added benefit, the LEVCONs will also increase controllability at highangles of attack (AoA).