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The test and signifies a leap forward in India’s aviation capabilities. Equipped with advanced electronic radar, warfare, communication systems, enhanced combat capability, and improved maintenance features, the Tejas Mk1A promises to bolster the country’s defence capabilities.

With an advanced electronic radar, warfare, communication systems, smart multi-function displays (SMFD), advanced self-protection jammer, electronic warfare suite, additional combat capability and improved maintenance features, the Tejas Mk1A will also have an indigenous Digital Fly by Wire Flight Control Computer (DFCC), developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru.

Planned to be deployed at Nal air base in Rajasthan’s Bikaner near the Pakistan border, the first squadron of the Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft can take care of the western adversary. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has got clearance to buy a total of 180 of these jets and is looking to get the first aircraft soon. The IAF already had 40 LCAs of the original IOC (initial operational clearance) and FOC (final operational clearance) version.  And with this variant in the long run, it is expected that the strength of the IAF fighters will go up to 220 LCA Mark 1As. This means that IAF will have almost 10 squadrons of the indigenous fighter jets.

An ideal fit to fill in, given the phasing out of the MiG 21 and MiG 27, these light combat jets are designed, developed and manufactured indigenously and have more than 65 percent of indigenous components. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000-crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mark 1A jets for the IAF.

Tender to Buy 97 Tejas Mk-1A Issued

The defence ministry has issued a tender to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for procurement of 97 more light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) Tejas. The fighter jets are expected to cost around Rs 65,000 crore.

Last year in November, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had cleared the project to acquire 97 more Tejas jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Defence Acquisition Council also approved a proposal of the IAF to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

The tender, issued in August, will equip the IAF with 180 home-grown fighters to replace the MiG variants like MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27 that are on their last leg after decades of service.

HAL has been given three months to respond to the new tender. It is set to be the largest ever order for indigenous military hardware to be placed by the Indian government. The new LCA Mk1A jets is expected to have more than 65 percent indigenous content. The Defence Ministry has already placed an order for 83 Tejas Mk1A jets in Feb 2021 worth Rs 47,500 crore and the first aircraft is expected to be delivered within a few weeks.

In March 2024, the first Tejas LCA Mk1A (LA 5033) took to the skies in Bengaluru and flew for 18 minutes. The aircraft will have an advanced electronic RADAR, warfare suite, communication systems, additional combat capability and improved maintenance features. In a statement, the state-owned aircraft manufacturer had said that “the country could look forward to early induction of the Tejas Mk1A by the IAF and more numbers through the three lines of production established at HAL.”

After HAL completes the previous contract of delivering 83 similar aircraft, the delivery of the 97 combat jets will start. The features in these aircraft will be much more than what the first 40 Tejas LCA that the IAF has been flying. The Cabinet Committee on Security has also approved the design and development of a home-grown fifth generation fighter aircraft known as AMCA or Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. Also in the works is a naval version of the LCA.

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The announcement was made by Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Chief of the IAF while receiving the first C-295 transport aircraft in Spain. He underscored the pivotal role of the LCA in replacing the ageing MiG-series fleet, which includes the MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27 aircraft.

Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said, “With the retirement of these ageing aircraft, it is imperative that we bolster our inventory with LCA class aircraft. Therefore, in addition to the 83 LCA Mark 1A aircraft we have already contracted for, we are advocating for the acquisition of around 100 more.”

The objective in acquiring these domestically produced aircraft is to phase out the older MiG-series fighter jets in its fleet. The proposal has been formally submitted to the defence ministry and other national security stakeholders. This decision to procure approximately 100 more LCA Tejas fighters follows a comprehensive review meeting chaired by the Air Force Chief, which included key stakeholders in the indigenous fighter jet program, such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The order, if approved and realised, would represent a substantial expansion of the Indian Air Force’s LCA Tejas fleet. Over the next 15 years, the IAF is expected to have 40 LCA Tejas, more than 180 LCA Mark-1A, and a minimum of 120 LCA Mark-2 aircraft in its inventory.

The LCA Mark 1A stands as an advanced iteration of the Tejas aircraft, featuring upgraded avionics and radar systems compared to the initial 40 LCAs supplied to the Air Force. The first deliveries of LCA Mark 1A is anticipated around February 2024. Boasting a substantial indigenous component of over 65 percent, the LCA Mark 1A reaffirms India’s commitment to self-reliance in the aerospace sector. This program aligns seamlessly with the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, highlighting the nation’s unwavering dedication to achieving self-sufficiency in aerospace technology and manufacturing.

Earlier, in August 2023, after the fighter jet successfully fired the Astra indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, the IAF chief held a review meeting of the indigenous fighter jet programme with all entities involved including the HAL.

The Air Chief brought out that the LCA has been the flag bearer of the IAF efforts towards indigenisation of its aircraft fleet. He said that given the nature of this project of national importance, it is required that all stakeholders adopt a collaborative approach towards its success. The programme has been the harbinger of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives of the nation. More importantly, it is a flag bearer of India’s self-reliance in the aerospace sector.

During the review, it was brought out that all contracted fighter variants of the LCA Mk 1 had been delivered to the IAF. Representatives of HAL had assured the chief of the timely delivery of the contracted twin-seaters in the coming months, as well. Further to the LCA Mk 1, 83 LCA Mk-1A aircraft have also been contracted by the IAF in 2021. The CMD of HAL had assured those present that the deliveries of this advanced variant of the LCA would commence by February 2024.

While complimenting HAL, the Air Chief indicated that based on these assurances, the LCA Mk 1A could be inducted in a newly raised squadron in one of the IAF’s operational bases, early next year. Notwithstanding the project delays that were brought out during the course of the review, the CAS lauded the efforts of all stakeholders and emphasised on the need to incorporate the lessons learnt from the LCA programme into future indigenous design and developmental projects. With timely deliveries of the more capable variant, the LCA Mk 1A is likely to see increased deployments at forward bases, besides participation in International exercises in the days to come.

The order for 100 LCA Mark1A fighter jets would make way for fighter jets re-entry into the Indian Air Force in very large numbers. In the next 15 years, the IAF will have 40 LCA, over 180 LCA Mark-1A and at least 120 LCA Mark-2 planes. The last order for LCA Mark1A was for 83 aircraft and the first plane would be delivered around February 2024.

The advanced version of Tejas aircraft, LCA Mark 1A has more advanced avionics and radars than the initial 40 LCAs being supplied to the Air Force and will have more indigenous content. The LCA Tejas programme has been the harbinger of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives of the nation. More importantly, it is a flag bearer of India’s self-reliance in the aerospace sector as well as the force’s efforts towards the indigenisation of its aircraft fleet.

Parliamentary Panel’s Concerns

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence report tabled in the House on — has expressed ‘concern’ over the existing fighting force levels of the IAF.

The committee was informed by the MoD that delivery of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas MK-1A fighter aircraft will commence from February 2024 and complete by January 2029 and the case for procurement of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) is under progress.

Expressing their concern over the existing force level in the Air Force, the committee desired that “all-out efforts be made to expedite supply of Tejas”. The committee urged the MoD to make a time-bound schedule. The committee noted that plan for theaterisation of armed forces, or creation of integrated theatre commands has been considered by the forces at the highest level.

LCA Navy Trainer Prototype

The LCA Naval trainer prototype NP5 successfully completed its maiden flight on August 18 from HAL airport.

Designed and developed jointly by ADA and HAL, LCA Navy can also serve as an effective training platform for Indian Navy pilots for operations from the aircraft carriers. Addition of NP5 aircraft to LCA Navy prototype fleet will help to accelerate flight testing activities which will provide designers vital inputs towards design and development of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), the prestigious futuristic carrier aircraft programme of the country.

The new prototype NP5 will undertake field and carrier operations from both INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, ADA said, adding it will incorporate all improvements identified during exploitation of NP1 and NP2 is a production ready aircraft. It will also incorporate the production standard airframe and rainwater compliance, maintainability improvements as well as futuristic system advancement.

The first trainer prototype NP1 was flown on April 27, 2012 and the fighter prototype NP2 was flown on February 7, 2015. Both Naval Prototypes (NP1 and NP2) have achieved major landmark milestones like Ski Jump take off and arrested landing demonstrations on Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at Dabolim Airport, Goa and operations from indigenous aircraft carriers. The aircraft demonstrated 18 arrested landings and Ski Jump take offs from INS Vikramaditya in January 2020, including hot refuelling capability. Recently, LCA Navy participated in the carrier trials from INS Vikrant and performed 10 Ski Jump take offs and arrested landings on February 6, 2023.

The LCA Navy is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies such as fly-by-wire flight control system, glass cockpit and advanced mechanical systems. The aircraft can be operated seamlessly both during the day and night. It features advanced hands free ski jump take-off and landing flight control modes. LCA Navy prototypes are carrier compatible and can operate with Air-to-Air weapons for combat missions.

Twin-Seater Trainer Version Handed Over to IAF

The IAF got its first Tejas twin-seater trainer version aircraft on October 4 from HAL. The twin-seater trainer version aircraft is part of the LCA Tejas project, the largest R&D program ever undertaken in India.

As part of the Tejas contract between the HAL and the Indian Air Force, the defence public sector unit has to supply eight twin-seater trainer aircraft to the force. HAL has an order for 18 twin-seaters from the IAF, with plans to deliver eight by the fiscal year 2023-24 and the remaining ten by 2026-27. 

The LCA Tejas Twin Seater is a lightweight, all-weather multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft, featuring advanced technologies such as relaxed static stability, quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control, carefree manoeuvring, an advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems, and advanced composite materials for the airframe.

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Aside from this, DRDO is also working on other electronics that are export worthy, DRDO director-general (electronics & communication system) BK Das said. The development is in line with the Centre’s push for not just self-reliance in defence but also enhancing exports.

According to DRDO, Uttam can track multiple targets at a time and also take hi-resolution pictures of enemy targets to aid in reconnaissance missions. Uttam is a fully electronically scanned agile beam radar which uses a transmit-or-receive module and has features that allow the aircraft to boast of low probability of intercept and non-cooperative target recognition.

It also provides better situational awareness of the modern battlefield scenario and is capable of tracking multiple targets with high accuracy suitable for firing missiles and has interleaved air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea modes for all terrain solution, according to Electronics & Radar Development Establishment, the Bengaluru-based lab which has developed the radar.

Sanctioned in 2012, the project team included people with the experience of making the main radar on the indigenous Airborne early Warning And Control System – Netra – and the Maritime Patrol radar. While stating that DRDO was in talks for export of Uttam, Das did not elaborate on the countries or customers that had shown interest.

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Replying to a question in Lok Sabha on Tejas, Bhatt said the HAL responded to a Request for Information (RFI) or initial tender received from Royal Malaysian Air Force in February 2019. Subsequently, HAL responded in October 2021 to a Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by Malaysia for 18 aircraft, adding the twin-seater variant of the Tejas was offered.

Malaysia is procuring the aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Russian MiG-29 fighter planes. The number of aircraft that Malaysia is looking at procuring is not immediately clear. In July, the then Chairman and Managing Director of HAL R Madhavan said the Tejas aircraft has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia.

The indigenous Tejas fighter jet competed with the developed aircraft of China, Russia and South Korea, and due to its features, it overshadowed all the aircraft.

Tejas may have an advantage in the case of the RMAF contract because of its relatively low per-unit cost and HAL’s offer of the package deal, which includes setting up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Malaysia for its fleet of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets.

About Tejas LCA

Tejas, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments.

Tejas is fully capable of carrying a load of eight to nine tonnes. It can fly with as many weapons and missiles as Sukhoi, which weighs more. Its biggest advantage is its speed. Despite being light, its speed is unmatched. These aircraft can fly as fast as the speed of sound, i.e., Mach 1.6 to 1.8, up at an altitude of 52,000 feet.

The Tejas Mark-1A is also costlier than the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft because many latest equipment have been added to it. It has a radar developed in Israel. The aircraft also has an indigenously developed radar. It is very light and its fighter power is also better. It is a multifunctional fighter aircraft.

Tejas is fitted with an active electronically-scanned radar for critical operation capability. It can refuel in the air and be ready for war again. It can target enemy aircraft from a distance. Not only this, it also has the ability to dodge the enemy’s radar.

The open architecture computer systems allow the HAL Tejas to incorporate Russian and Western armaments, giving an edge to the Indian-made light fighter

Tejas made its first flight in January 2001. The aircraft was inducted into the squadron of the Indian Air Force in 2016

In February last year, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Many countries interested in Tejas LCA

At least seven countries have shown interest in India’s homegrown Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Indian Defense Ministry informed the Parliament in a statement on August 5.

The US, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines are among six countries, which have shown interest in India’s Tejas aircraft while Malaysia has already shortlisted the jet under its acquisition programme.

The other two countries that have evinced interest in the aircraft are Argentina and Egypt, according to Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt.

In September 2021, HAL responded to the Request for Information (RFI) by the Royal Australian Air Force for procurement of future LIFT aircraft to replace its existing fleet of 33 ‘Hawk MK-127 LIFT aircraft of the British Aerospace and Engineering (BAE) Systems.

In the RAAF tender, LCA Tejas competes with the T-7A Red Hawk trainer that Boeing and Swedish Saab jointly develop; M-346 of the Italian aerospace major Leonardo; and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 that has been co-developed with Lockheed Martin.

In addition, BAE had also proposed its upgraded Hawk. In February, the company was awarded a contract worth $1.5 billion to upgrade the RAAF’s existing fleet of Hawk MK-127, suggesting India is now out of the race to win the Australian LIFT Aircraft contract.

Before Australia, India had offered the LCA Tejas’ LIFT variant to the US Navy in 2020 in response to the global RFI issued by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to procure a new trainer to replace its fleet of Boeing T-45 Goshawks.

The latest reports suggest that the T-7B Red Hawk, an American/Swedish advanced jet trainer produced by Boeing in partnership with Saab, is competing with offerings from Leonardo and Lockheed Martin to replace the Navy’s current T-45 Goshawk advanced jet trainer.

Even the UAE had shown interest in Tejas LCA in 2018. However, in February, the UAE Defense Ministry announced that it was buying L-15 training and combat aircraft from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), which was seen as a snub to Tejas.

Argentina could soon be the latest addition to the list of foreign customers of JF-17. In May, a delegation of the Argentine Air Force comprising pilots and technicians visited China for a complete technical evaluation of the J-17 fighter aircraft. It was believed that India had also pitched its Tejas LCA.

India appears to be in talks with the Egyptian Air Force about a potential deal to sell Tejas Mk1A, as part of which India has offered to set up joint production facilities for the aircraft.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, keen to reduce India’s reliance on foreign defence equipment, has also been making diplomatic efforts to export the jets. The Tejas has been beset by design and other challenges, and was once rejected by the Indian Navy as too heavy.

Britain said in April it would support India’s goal of building its own fighter jets. India currently has a mix of Russian, British and French fighter jets.

The LCA Mk1 is already in service, and the more capable LCA-Mk1A, 83 of which the IAF had ordered in February last year, will be delivered to the Indian Air Force by the end of this decade. The first three aircraft are reported to be delivered by 2024, with 16 each for the next five years. In addition to the LCA Tejas Mk2, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has also committed to acquiring at least seven squadrons of the fifth-generation Indian fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is also being developed at a breakneck pace, informed the IAF top boss

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The other two countries that have evinced interest in the aircraft are Argentina and Egypt, according to Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt.

Tejas, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments.

In February last year, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha on Tejas, Bhatt said the HAL responded to a Request for Information (RFI) or initial tender received from Royal Malaysian Air Force in February 2019.

Subsequently, the HAL responded in October 2021 to a Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by Malaysia for 18 aircraft, adding the twin-seater variant of the Tejas was offered.

Malaysia is procuring the aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Russian MiG-29 fighter planes. The number of aircraft that Malaysia is looking at procuring is not immediately clear. In July, the then Chairman and Managing Director of HAL R Madhavan said the Tejas aircraft has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia.

“Other countries which have evinced interest in LCA aircraft are Argentina, Australia, Egypt, USA, Indonesia, and the Philippines,” he said.

“Further, the desired information is sensitive in nature and its disclosure is not in the interest of national security,” he said.

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The LCA Tejas would be the first fleet to be equipped with American JDAMs, which is going to be one of the mainstays of the force in the future, ANI quoted the sources as saying. The IAF had recently signed a contract for the JDAM kits.

Tejas is a single-engined, lightweight, highly agile, multi-role supersonic fighter. It has been designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Not very long back, the IAF had equipped Tejas with Hammer, the French-origin air-to-ground stand-off missiles, and also with the indigenous Astra air-to-air missiles. By adding more and more capabilities to the Tejas aircraft, the IAF is showing its support in developing the indigenous fighter aircraft programme.

How will JDAM boost IAF capabilities?
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or “dumb bombs”, into all-weather precision-guided munitions. JDAM kits will enable Tejas fighter jets to take out enemy bunkers and runways at distances of 80 km and beyond.

This will give the homegrown aircraft a further edge over the adversary fighter jets as they would be able to destroy targets from standoff distances.

How does joint direct attack munition (JDAM) work?
The JDAM “tail kit” includes adjustable tail fins, a control computer, an inertial guidance system, and a GPS receiver. This system works well even in bad weather because it gets all its information from satellite signals, which aren’t blocked by clouds or other obstacles.

In the air, the JDAM’s GPS receiver processes signals from the GPS satellites to keep track of its own position. As with other smart bombs, the control system adjusts the flight fins to “steer” the bomb in the right direction.

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India has been making concerted attempts to boost the capability of its armed forces as the country faces what is seen as two-front war threats from China and Pakistan.

While the more superior fighters in the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet were flying around, over and near the Eastern Ladakh sectors, the light combat planes had assumed the role of a watchdog against Pakistan along the Western region.

India has been attempting to develop a variety of indigenous technology and weapon systems in order to increase defense sector self-reliance, especially for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Order for 83 LCAs

In February 2021, HAL was awarded the contract to manufacture 83 LCA for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at an estimated cost of Rs 48,000 crore at the 13th edition of Aero India in Bengaluru, bringing the total number of LCA versions ordered to 123. The 40 LCAs that the IAF has already ordered are in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and advanced operational clearance (FOC) variants.

Deliveries to the IAF will begin in 2023 and end in 2024. The indigenous fighter will be outfitted with a locally-developed flight control computer and an air data computer, both of which will be provided by BEL under this deal. Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bengaluru’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) have collaborated to develop both of these systems.

The LCA Mk-1A will have a number of enhancements over the FOC aircraft, making it the most advanced LCA variant to date.

The Mk-1A variant includes digital radar warning receivers, external self-protection jammer pods, AESA radar, enhanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, and greatly better maintainability. The indigenous component of the fighter is estimated to be around 60%, compared to 50% in earlier models.

On 16 December 2021, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a a five-year deal with Bharat Electronics Limited for the development and supply of 20 types of systems for the Tejas Mk1A light combat aircraft (LCA) program. The deal, which runs from 2023 to 2028, entails supplying crucial avionics Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), Flight Control Computers, and Night Flying LRUs in what is called the biggest ever order that the state-run company has placed on any Indian company boosting ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign.

After completing the requisite design efforts, HAL has set a March 2022 timeline for the first flight of the LCA Mk-1A fighter, according to HAL chairman R Madhavan.

The LCA Tejas and its two variants in the pipeline have become the flag-bearers of India’s indigenous defense manufacturing. The new HAL contract is expected to not only give the requisite push to self-reliance but also boost the capability of the Tejas which is now being pitched to friendly countries.

Indigenous AESA Radar

The development of a indigenous AESA radar, which will be installed in the Tejas, is a big step forward and is aimed at creating a balance of power with China.

These AESA radars will be installed in all 83 Mk1A Tejas Aircraft which will boost its capability significantly. These radars, like the current avionic systems, are also largely indigenous with about 95% local component.

The AESA radar includes an electronic warfare (EW) suite with a jammer, the Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT) – an IFF plus system – and a digital map generator.

Hammer Missiles

Additionally, India is also procuring Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) missiles from France to integrate them with the LCA Tejas aircraft after its success with the Rafales.

They are being procured under the emergency route granted to the military in the backdrop of continuing Chinese aggression. These missiles are expected to enhance the firepower of these LCAs and allow them to strike bunker targets deep inside the enemy territory.

Tejas Mark 2 Design Cleared

The LCA) is now evolving from its current, single-engine, Mark 1 avatar to a more sophisticated, twin-engine, fifth-generation fighter. On 15 November 2021, Deputy Chief of Air Staff (DCAS), Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, accepted the comprehensive design review (CDR) of the LCA Mark 2.

A CDR is a multi-discipline, technical review that is a critical step in designing an aircraft. It involves examining the air frame design to ascertain that the aircraft is ready for fabrication and testing and it would achieve its stipulated performance within cost, schedule and risk.

The IAF’s acceptance of the CDR clears the way for HAL to start releasing drawings for fabricating the Mark 2’s first prototype.

Alongside building the Mark 2 prototype, HAL and the ADA – the DRDO agency that oversees the entire Tejas programme – must still resolve a few glitches that remain in the Mark 1 fighter; and also complete delivery of the IAF’s order of 40 Mark 1 (two squadrons) and 83 Mark 1A (four squadrons).

Status of the Indigenous Fighter Project

The first two Mark 1 squadrons are already operational in Sulur, near Coimbatore. Each of them is authorized 20 fighters, including four twin-seat trainers. The trainers’ specifications were finalised late, so they will be built along with the 10 trainers of the four Mark 1A squadrons.

The IAF has cleared the “FOC for the Mark I fighter, even though that involved granting 25 concessions – or performance shortfalls from the IAF’s specified requirements. HAL, ADA and the IAF are working together to resolve these shortfalls.

Issues Resolved

Issues which have already been resolved include equipping the Tejas to re-fuel in-flight, by day or night. This was proved by refuelling into internal fuel tanks or external drop tanks, from IL-78 refuellers or from Sukhoi-30MKI acting as “buddy refuellers.

The capability to monitor fuel levels in the Tejas through an integrated Environmental Control and Fuel Management (ECFM) system has also been resolved.

The Gasha 23 mm gun has been integrated into Tejas Mk 1 but live firing was pending. The same has also been done. 

The indigenous Astra air-to-air missile and Safran’s HAMMER air-to-ground bomb are waiting to be integrated onto the Tejas. HAL is doing the mechanical and electrical integration, while the DRDO is handling the software and the weapons algorithm.

Fatigue tests remain to establish the fighter’s service life span. These tests involve taking an aircraft from the production line and subjecting it to repetitive loading. As more and more hours are logged and the data accumulates, the manufacturer increases the designated life-span proportionately. It takes about nine years of testing to establish 3,000 hours of service life.

The digital map generator, designed by HAL’s Mission and Combat Systems R&D Centre (MCSR&DC), carries the complete map data of the country and neighbouring areas. Depending upon the Tejas’ mission, it extracts the digitised map of the current mission area and transfers it to the pilots’ display, where he can easily access it.

HAL is also integrating the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) onto the Mark 1A. The ASRAAM, which has a range of 60-70 kms was bought by the IAF from MBDA UK, for upgrading its Jaguar fighters. Now each Tejas too will carry two of these missiles on its outboard stations.

Another modification involves reshaping the cockpit floor to enable bigger pilots – with shoe size up to 10, which includes 95 per cent of all IAF pilots – to fit into the cockpit and fly the aircraft comfortably.

What Will the Tejas LCA Mk 2 be Like?

The Tejas Mark 2 is will be significantly larger and more capable than the Mk 1, with a higher thrust engine and a 1.5-metre increase in length. While there is no change in the size of the wings, they have been pushed outwards, effectively increasing the fighter’s wingspan by 300 mm.

Ahead of the wings, a canard has been added, creating a resemblance with contemporary fighters such as the Rafale, Eurofighter or the Sukhoi-30MKI. The canard provides an additional control surface that creates a vortex, increasing the lifting capability and agility of the aircraft.

The Mark 2 has increased payload capacity to integrate more weapons and sensors. It will carry the indigenous Astra Mark 1 and Mark 2 missiles, Rudram anti-radiation missiles, developed by the DRDO’s Defence R&D Laboratory (DRDL) (tested on 9 October).

DRDO is developing the Tara (high speed, low drag) bomb that is mounted on the pylons. It will also have the option of carrying laser guided bombs (LGBs), fitted with laser-guidance kits. Mark 2 may be integrated with the SCALP missile that has been procured along with the Rafale fighters.

Tejas Mark 2 will have 11 hard points, including one on each wingtip for the ASRAAM air-to-air missile. There will be three under-wing pylons on each side, one wet station on each side for fuel drop tanks, while the other three hard points are for long-range missiles such as the Astra and Rudram.

Fitted with significantly more powerful General Electric (GE) F-414 engine, the Mark 2 would have its internals rearranged, to make them more accessible and maintenance friendly. Line replacement units will be optimally rearranged to improve space utilisation, accessibility and make maintenance easier and reduce turn-around time.

Aeroengines

HAL had signed a $716 million deal with American company GE Aviation earlier this year for 99 F404 aircraft engines and related services to power the indigenous Tejas LCA Mk-1A. On top of that, it is now building its own indigenous engine that is expected to power its Tejas variants as well as its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) aircraft.

The current GE F-404 power pack will be replaced with F-414, whose peak thrust of 83 KiloNewtons (kN) is considered inadequate. The GE F-414 engine will deliver 98 kN of peak power. The new engine will enable the Mark 2 to take off with a maximum all-up weight of 16.5 tonnes, which will include the 10-tonne weight of the fighter and 6.5 tonnes of external payload.

The Tejas Mark 2 can carry 3.5 tonnes of fuel in external drop tanks, in addition to 3.3 tonnes in its internal fuel tanks, while still carrying three tonnes of weapons and sensors.

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The IAF is set to demonstrate the use of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar developed in-house later this month, making India one of the few countries with an indigenous force multiplier that is used in electronic warfare, long-range missiles, and long-range precision-guided ammunition.

The 95% indigenous component in the radar system is in consonance with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. Apart from India, “only the US, the EU, Israel, and China have AESA radar capability”, D Seshagiri, Head of the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said, with only one imported subsystem. It can track 50 targets in the sky at a range of more than 100 kilometers and engage about four of them at the same time.

This also allows India to create a balance of power in the region with China which has been showcasing its stealth fighter J-20 as a means of achieving air superiority.

AESA employs an electronically controlled array antenna, which allows a beam of radio waves to be electronically guided in multiple directions without moving the antenna. It is primarily used in radar systems and allows the radar to have resistance to anti-jamming, low interception, multi-mode capability and high reliability because each of these modes functions independently.

Thus, India possessing the AESA Radar will protect its fighter aircraft that are already far short in number against the sanctioned strength, from enemy radars. This will achieve a dual purpose of early interception and attack. Given India’s geography and two-front war threats from China and Pakistan, it will function as a force multiplier for the IAF.

In the next five years, all 83 of IAF’s Tejas Mark I A fighters will have the The Uttam AESA Radar, as will the future twin-engine AMCA fighter developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

The first 16 Tejas MK 1A aircraft will be fitted with Israeli ELM 2052 AESA radars and the remaining will be fitted with the indigenous Uttam AESA radar, HT has learnt. “The radar has already been tested on two Tejas fighters as well as Hawker Siddeley 800 executive jet for over 250 hours. Only the US, the EU, Israel, and China have AESA radar capability,” Seshagiri said.

According to Seshagiri, the AESA radar will be installed on the radar cone of the Su-30 MKI aircraft as well as carrier-based MiG-29K fighters. “The LRDE has already signed an MoU with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to be the lead integrator of the radar on the Tejas Mk I A, with four recognized vendors, including BEL, as essential sub-system suppliers,” he said.

The first prototype of the radar was developed in 2012, and a full-scale model was shown during the 2017 Aero India aviation exhibition. At Aero India 2019, a fully functional AESA radar prototype was unveiled, placed inside the glass nose of a HAL Tejas fighter.

Earlier this year, Seshagiri had said, “On the LCAs, testing is currently focused on the air-to-air mode. The radar’s range should be about equal to that required to launch a BVR (beyond visual range) weapon. However, we’re getting a better range than that. We’re about to start a joint review after a few sorties. Following that, it will be ready for user testing.”

It is believed Astra Mark-2 air-to-air missile, developed by DRDO, is also equipped with an AESA active seeker, to improve the performance of the missile and replace the Russian radio frequency seeker used in the Astra Mk I, according to The New Indian Express. The air advantage China has achieved with its fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighters may be nullified by this radar, analysts believe.

The National Flight Testing Centre, which is manned by IAF, has already greenlighted the radar after successful performance tests. Earlier, India was using primary radars on its fighters as well as indigenous airborne warning and control systems planes. The Pakistani Air Force’s retaliation for the Balakot strike in February 2019 would have turned costly for Islamabad if Indian fighters had AESA radars mounted on intercepting fighters.

The AESA radar is also the key to the DRDO-developed Astra air-to-air missile, which has a range well over 120km, and will deliver guided ammunition over long distances. This radar will nullify the air superiority China had gained with its J20 multi-role fighters, as the Indian-developed AESA radar compares well with that developed by Beijing.

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India is keen to promote its indigenously developed and produced Tejas single-engine Light Combat Aircraft at overseas exhibitions, and the biennial Dubai Airshow, was no exception. The Dubai Air Show is one of the leading aerospace events in the Middle East and amongst the growing Air shows across the globe. The show was inaugurated by Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Seikh bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on November 14, and concluded on November 18.

The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft was prominent in the flying display at the Dubai Airshow this year, as manufacturer HAL eyes first deliveries of the Mk1A variant by early 2023, and work continues on the more advanced Mk2.

An Indian Air Force (IAF)-piloted Tejas Mk1 was a daily feature in the flying display and three aircraft were on static display. “The aircraft manoeuvred effortlessly, showing off its agility and versatility,” the IAF said adding that it is a testament to the rapid strides that the platform has achieved in recent times.

The first of 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft on order for the IAF should be delivered in Q4 2022, or Q1 2023 at the latest.

Tejas Display

The Show commenced with a combined flypast carried out by the IAF’s Suryakiran Aerobatics Team along with the UAE’s Al Fursan Display Team. The IAF in a statement called it ‘a display that signified the deep camaraderie and bonhomie between the two Air Forces.’

Nine Hawk 132 of the Suryakiran Team flew in synchronisation with seven Aermacchi MB-339 of Al Fursan over significant landmarks in Dubai including the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Al Arab.

The indigenously manufactured Tejas reinforced its ever-increasing popularity by an awe-struck demonstration flight exhibiting its “versatility” and “agility”.

Global Attention

So far Malaysia, Argentina, and Egypt have expressed their interest in the IAF’s Tejas. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has plans to purchase 18 multirole light fighter jets. It also has set an added option to buy another 18 later. The bid is being considered significant for it may emerge as the first global buyer of the India-made Tejas.

According to Malaysian media reports, six bids have been filed for RMAF light combat aircraft (LCA) tender. The MiG-35 from Russia, the L-15 from China, the FA-50 from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the Hurjet from Turkey Aerospace Industries (TAI), and the Leonardo M-346 from Italy are among the bidders. The Pakistani-Chinese JF-17 Thunder, which was initially thought to be among the competitors, was not on the list. The Yakovlev Yak-130 and the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk were also missing.

According to HAL chief, R Madhavan, HAL met practically all of the RMAF’s conditions. “We can easily engineer one or two of the Malaysian parameters that we don’t meet. For example, we can rapidly add the onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS) that they requested,” R Madhavan, HAL chief said.

According to Madhavan, many of the other competitors do not match Malaysian requirements. The Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 lacks the required active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and its mid-air refuelling capability is currently being evaluated.

Buenos Aires is looking for 12 light fighters. The matter is being pursued by HAL, but there is a UK embargo on the export of British defence equipment to Argentina that dates back to the Falklands War. Several systems and subsystems of the Tejas, which are made in the United Kingdom by companies including BAE Systems, Cobham, and Martin-Baker will need to be replaced by HAL to make the fighter jet eligible for export. Previously, the UK blocked the sale of South Korean fighter jets to Argentina.

Egypt had been rumoured to be interested in the Tejas since the Bahrain Air Show 2018. The Egyptian Air Force is considering replacing its aging Dassault/Dornier Alpha aircraft

Another reason for the Tejas’ appearance at the Dubai Air Show was to gauge interest in the region. However, weaning Cairo off US platforms, which Washington has long provided at subsidized rates, will be a big challenge.

HAL claimed that it has proposed Tejas as a Lead-In Flight Trainer to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). According to HAL’s annual report, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a trainer aircraft in July of last year, to which HAL has already responded.

Sri Lanka has a small air force with only a few aircraft. During the civil war, these fighters were primarily responsible for bombing insurgents. Sri Lanka has already turned down Pakistan’s offer of the JF 17 Thunder and is believed to have shown interest in the Indian Tejas.

Tejas Mk 2 Under Development

The Tejas Mark 2 is being designed and developed to replace multiple strike fighters of IAF viz, SEPECAT Jaguar, Dassault Mirage 2000 and Mikoyan MiG-29.

The development process of a more advanced Mk2 version of the Indian fighter is making ateady progress. The preliminary design studies for the Tejas Mark 2 was completed in 2014 and was in detailed design phase as of 2015. The redesigned fighter was first unveiled at the Aero India Show 2019. It was a 17.5 tonne class fighter with close coupled canards and integrated IRST system. Metal-cutting for the Tejas Mark 2 started in February 2021. The ‘roll out’ of the first prototype is scheduled for December 2022 with its first flight expected to be in 2023. A total of four prototypes are being planned initially. Designers plan to complete the Tejas Mk2 by 2026.

The Tejas Mk2 will feature a new Uttam AESA radar (which could also be installed on the latest and upcoming production batches of the Tejas Mk1A) and a General Electric F414 INS6 engine to deliver better performance than the F404 IN20 used on the Tejas Mk1A.

Other planned improvements in the Tejas Mk2 include stealth measures to reduce the radar cross-section of the aircraft, a radiation-absorbent coating, as well as a new integrated EW system.

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