IAF planning to buy 100 more LCA Tejas MK-1A fighter jets

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to buy 100 more Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas MK-1A fighter jets replacing the MiG-21 aircraft in its fleet.

As of now, the plan to buy these indigenously developed aircraft has been submitted to the India’s Defence Ministry and all other stakeholders in the national security establishment.

The project is expected to receive clearance soon.

Noteworthy, once the order is placed then this would mean the IAF will have 40 Tejas, over 180 Tejas MK-1A and at least 120 Tejas MK-2 planes in the next 15 years.

The decision came around the time when IAF Air Marshal VR Chaudhari held a review meeting of the indigenous fighter jet programme with all entities involved including DPSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Further, during the review meeting it was informed that all contracted fighter variants of the Tejas MK-1 had been delivered to the IAF.

Representatives from HAL assured Air Marshal Chaudhari of the timely delivery of the contracted twin-seaters in the coming months, as well, reported the news agency.

Noteworthy, the last order for Tejas MK-1A was for 83 fighter jets which was placed in February 2021 for Rs 48,000 crore.

The first combat jet is slated to be delivered around February 2024 and it is an advanced version of the Tejas aircraft.

The Tejas MK-1A fighter jets has more advanced avionics and radars than the initial 40 LCA Tejas being supplied to the Indian Air Force.

Also, worth mentioning that the indigenous content in the new Tejas MK-1As is going to be more than 65 per cent.

Source: https://aninews.in/

About LCA Tejas

LCA Tejas is a 4.5 generation, all weather and multi-role fighter aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy

The aircraft is designed to be a multi-role aircraft capable of taking up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack role at ease.

Further, it is also designed to undertake Ground Maritime Operations. The different variants of aircraft under production and development are:
• Single seater fighter for Air Force
• Single seater fighter for Navy 
• Twin Seater trainer aircraft for Air Force 
• Twin Seater trainer version for Navy

About LCA Tejas MK-1A fighter jets

LCA Tejas MK-1A fighter jets are the most advanced version of the LCA Tejas.

They are equipped with AESA Radar, EW suite consisting of radar warning and self-protection jamming, Digital Map Generator (DMG), Smart Multi-function Displays (SMFD), Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT), Advanced Radio Altimeter and other advances features.

The technical specifications of the aircraft are tabulated below:

• Smallest & lightest aircraft in its class  Dimensionally smallest which is coupled with Extensive use of composite structure to make the aircraft lighter
• Excellent flight safety record Remarkable achievement of accident free flying.
• Compound Tail-Less Delta Increases the capacity to carry wider range of weapons like Bombs, Missiles etc
• In Flight Refueling (IFR) Probe Enhances range during mission undertaken. IFR capability has been proven for day and night operations.
• Open Architecture based Mission Computer Indigenously designed which provides interoperability, scalability and portability
• Quadruplex-Redundant Fly-By-Wire Fully redundant quadruplex digital fly-by-wire flight control system to ease handling by the pilot
• AESA RADAR Electronically Scanned Array RADAR with low probability of interception.
• Variety of Weapons LCA-Tejas is having 9 hard points and is capable to fire variety of weapons like Long Range BVR & WVR missiles, Bombs etc. with required precision and accuracy.

Source: https://hal-india.co.in/Product_Details.aspx?Mkey=54&lKey=&CKey=20