IFTS

	Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment The history of military flight-testing in independent India dates back to 1948 when flight Aircraft Testing Unit (ATU) was formed as the Vampire handling flight. On 23 Aug 1972, A&ATU was reorganized as the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) and the unit moved to Bangalore on 20 June 1973. India started training its own test pilots in Jul 1973, when the Air Force Test Pilot School (AFTPS) was set up as part of ASTE. This was the first such school in Asia and the fourth in the world. It initially conducted Production Test Pilot Courses and started the first Experimental Test Pilot Course Course, in Sep 76. In 1984, the scope was extended to the training of Flight Test Engineers and by 1989, with the commencement of Rotary Wing course; India became self-sufficient in training its own test pilots and engineers. In the recent times, ASTE has been participating in the flight testing of two indigenous prototypes designed and developed by HAL These are the Advanced Light. Helicopter (Dhruv) and the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT). It is associated with the flight testing and development of the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), being designed by Aeronautical Development Agency. ASTE is the sole flight testing agency involved in the indigenous development of the Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) ‘Saras’.ASTE has led the IAF from strength to strength, with key up-gradation projects (Jaguar, MiG-27 & Sukhoi), keeping IAF abreast of the best in the world.
	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL, a major aerospace company with 16 plants supported by 9 R&D centres, is spread across India. HAL's products range from Aircraft, Engines and Accessories to Avionics, Structures for Satellite Launch Vehicles and Industrial & Marine Gas Turbine engines. The Divisions of HAL have ISO 9001/9002 accreditions. Since its inception in 1940, HAL has produced 11 types of aircraft of its own design and 13 types of aircraft under license, covering corresponding engines, avionics and accessories. In recent years, HAL has commenced export of its goods and services to many countries including USA, France, UK, Japan, Mauritius, Nepal, Namibia etc. Major current programmes includes the new generation Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv), Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), Intermediate jet Trainer, aircraft upgrades and manfacture of Su-30MKI
	Aeronautical Development Agency Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is an autonomous Society functioning under the administrative control of MoD. As a first step, design and development of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), for land and carrier borne use by Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy (IN) has been assigned to ADA.
	Defence Research & Development Organization The Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) was set up in 1958. The important programmes and achievements include development of flight simulators for Ajeet and Kiran aircraft, air launched missile target Fluffy, low-level surveillance radar Indra, electronic warfare (EW) systems and sonars, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Prithvi, Agni, Lakshya etc.