The Indian Air Force (IAF) will equip its fighter aircraft, LCA mkII, with the on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS) gadget to allow pilots to be airborne for longer durations.
OBOGS will produce oxygen inside the aircraft by concentrating the oxygen available in the atmosphere and removing nitrogen from it.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) life science chief controller W Selvamurthy said the ground integration process of OBOGS in the technology demonstrator (TD) of the aircraft has already begun.
“It will be a significant force multiplier for the IAF focused at enhancing pilots’ ability to remain airborne. With on-board oxygen generation capability pilots would not be required to land to refill their oxygen supply,” he added.
India is planning to equip all frontline aircrafts of the IAF with the new technology, according to the Press Trust of India.
The US, Russia and France are the only three countries that have successfully integrated the OBOGS technology in their air forces.
