Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the principal partner in the LCA programme with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) acting as the Program Co-ordinator.
India’s geographic situation is complicated. Notorious terror sponsors Pakistan in the west and the Expansionist Chinese Communist regime in the east. Not to mention both these countries are armed with nuclear weapons and fought wars with India in the past.
Like all other nations, India’s growing need for credible deterrence begins with Airpower. In modern warfare, Airpower plays a big role and a deciding factor to determine the course of the war. Indian Airforce needs are very vast, After all, India is facing China, who’s ambition is to challenge the western superpowers like the United States. Bringing Pakistan into the calculation makes things pretty complicated for the Indian Air Force.
Importing weapon systems to meet your security needs is not the wise choice either. IAF largely consists of Soviet era and Modern-day Russian fighters, with a mix of western fighters as well. These are old and need to be retired from service soon. What could be the replacement?
From being the world’s largest arms importer India is on the verge of changing the tide. The Light Combat Aircraft shortly known as LCA or Tejas, was India’s humble beginning for an indigenous solution to meet Indian Air Force demands. Today India has turned the Light Combat Aircraft into a cheap, cost-effective and potent multirole fighter jet for modern warfare. The scope for new updates and improvements for future warfare gives the platform a special place.
Tejas Fighter Jets and beyond:
The HAL Tejas is an Indian single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
Indian Airforce operates two variants of the jet. Texas Mark 1 with initial operational clearance (IOC) standard and Tejas Mark 1 with Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Standard. The features and differences between these two are given below. The interesting development for the program is the next variants planned for the Indian Airforce. This is where Tejas Program gets the world’s attention.
LCA-Production Group (LCA-PG) was launched in 2002 at HAL as the designated manufacturing unit for manufacturing the indigenously designed 4.5 generation aircraft – Tejas being designed by ADA.
For an example take the Tejas MK1A!
The Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft is an indigenously designed and manufactured fourth-generation fighter with critical operational capabilities that include an Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, and is capable of air-to-air refueling (AAR).
Tejas (LCA) program began as a replacement for the vintage soviet Mig 21s with the Indian Airforce has matured into a much more capable platform with 4 the generation warfare technology. India plans to expand the Tejas family, from light combat aircraft to much larger Medium Combat Aircrafts, same category of the American F-16.
Indian defense Ministry has said that multiple countries shown interest in buy the latest version of Tejas MK1A. Unlike the MK1 variants, the MK1A of Tejas has a much-improved weight to thrust ratio and packs to notch most advanced avionics.
LCA PG was upgraded as a full fledged Division of HAL and christened as LCA Tejas Division, under Bangalore Complex in April 2014 for manufacture of Series Production aircraft.
“Several countries interested in procuring Tejas Mk1A and orders likely to be placed soon”: Defence Minister of India said.
He has families have grown to catapult the Indian Aerospace Industries. The experience and knowledge gained with the program are immense.
Here are some Tejas Variants several countries are looking for.
Tejas Mark 1 (IOC standard) −
Single-seat variant for Indian Air Force with Initial Operational Clearance. The 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) operates 16 jets of this variant. All 16 IOC fighters will later be upgraded to FOC standard.
Tejas Mark 1 (FOC standard)
Single-seat over manoeuvrability for Indian Air Force with Final Operational Clearance. All 16 jets to be inducted would be BVRAAM capable, with general flight envelope expansion, increased angle of attack, higher g-limit of +8 g, as well as hot and Aerial refuelling.[220] Supply of Tejas Mk 1 (FOC standard) has begun and 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets) has been raised with the first aircraft in May 2020. Delivery of balance 15 aircraft to No. 18 Squadron is expected to be completed by September 2021. Both IOC and FOC standard Tejas could become a hot sell with several countries looking for replacing their vintage jets.
Tejas Mark 1A
Tejas Mark 1A is to enhance manoeuvrability, aerodynamics, radar signature, maintainability, and pilot survivability; and adding an EL/M-2052 AESA fire control radar, self-protection jammer, radar warning receiver, as well as being able to mount an external ECM pod.
In January 2021, the Cabinet Committee on Security, approved the procurement of 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A, as part of a ₹48,000 crore (US$6.7 billion) order for 83 Tejas.
Tejas Trainer − Two-seat operational conversion trainer for the Indian Air Force. Initially 8 Mk1 trainers were to be delivered to the IAF, as part of the order of 40 Tejas Mk1 aircraft. The IAF put in an additional caveat—that all Mk1 trainer aircraft are to be of FOC Mk1 configuration, a move that HAL stated would affect the delivery.
LCA Tejas Division has been certified for AS 9100D (based on ISO 9001: 2015), with validity upto 8th July 2020. Upgradation of the certification is a continuous process and the Division will be updating the certification to the latest standard applicable.
As part of the January 2021 order of 83 aircraft, the IAF has asked for an additional 10 Mk1 trainer aircraft, be added to the back order. A separate production line is being established by HAL for constructing the 18 trainer aircraft on order.
SPORT : LCA LiFT
Supersonic Omni-Role Trainer aircraft is a two-seater Lead-in Fighter Training [LiFT] aircraft being developed from LCA Trainer Mark 1 for export purposes as light fighter.
Medium Weight Fighter – or “Tejas Mark 2”
Texas Mark 2 (MK2) is to feature the more powerful General Electric F414-GE-INS6 engine with 98 kN of thrust. In November 2009, Ministry of Defence sanctioned ₹2,431.55 crore (equivalent to ₹49 billion or US$690 million in 2019) for development of Tejas Mk 2, which was expected to be completed by 2018. However, a delay in procurement of engines pushed back the initiation of development till 2013. As of 2018, the project is expected to be completed by 2022. Mk 2 will feature an AESA radar, an on-board oxygen generation system, and a built-in electronic warfare suite among other improvements to avionics.
The aircraft with delta wing is designed for ‘air combat’ and ‘offensive air support’ with ‘reconnaissance’ and ‘anti-ship’ as its secondary roles. Extensive use of advanced composites in the airframe gives a high strength to weight ratio, long fatigue life and low radar signatures. Aeronautical Development Agency is the designated project manager for the development of LCA.
In January 2019, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa said that the IAF has committed to procure twelve squadrons of Tejas Mk 2 aircraft.[228] In Aero India 2019, a model of Tejas Mk 2 with close-coupled canards was displthe ayed. Mk 2 will be slightly larger with a length of 14.6 m (48 ft) and a wingspan of 8.5 m (28 ft). An increase in payload capacity to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) will also the first to carry more weapons. It will include an infra-red search and track system and a missile approach warning system.
Twin-engine deck based fighter (TEDBF)
A new twin-engine carrier–based fighter variant, to be developed from Naval Tejas Mark 2 or independently. Chances are it will be totally different program based on Tejas Mk2 MWF and AMCA asper interest of Indian Navy. Planned for operation from INS Vikrant and INS Vishal and can replace current MiG-29K used in INS Vikramaditya and planned for use in INS Vikrant also. First 3 prototypes will be ready by 2028.
LCA Tejas Division has outsourced all the major assemblies including Front Fuselage, Centre Fuselage, Rear Fuselage and Wing to move towards as integrator of aircraft.
India approach to the future war is not solely depended on the Fifth generation stealth capabilities. India plans to operate fifth-generation fighters ‘Along’ with the 4th generation++ jets. India believes the technology is not matured yet. And the same thoughts remain with many other world powers as well. The United States which is considered as a benchmark for weapon systems advancement is switching back to the 4th generation plus or 5th generation minus fighter jet program. As per our latest reports, The US looking at F16 platform derivatives. When with the world’s best 5th generation fighter jet technologies. The cost could play an important factor. Never the less one should consider the advancement in missile seekers and radar technologies. The stealth advantage the fifth-generation jets have might be lost with powerful ground-based radar systems. Which later can transmit the information to the jets in the air with many other means and technology. India has analysed these factors. Tejas will form the backbone of an Indian future assault.
The key production drivers in the Tejas aircraft are:
- High percentage of carbon fibre composite (90 percent by surface area)
- Metallic components with complex geometries from Titanium, Aluminum, maraging steel
- Stringent EMI/EMC requirements
- Tightly packed Inboards
- Fully Integrated avionics, flight control and utility management systems.
- So far 2 Technology Demonstrators, 5 Prototype Aircraft, 7 LSP Aircraft & 1 Naval prototype have been manufactured and more than 3700 flights have been carried out. Manufacturing of Series Production Aircraft have commenced and being supplied to IAF.
