Tejas fighter enters air force service - Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.

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Friday 20 December 2013

Tejas fighter enters air force service



By Ajai Shukla
Bengaluru
Business Standard, 21st Dec 13

As Defence Minister AK Antony watched from a shamiyana overlooking the Bengaluru runway, two Tejas light combat aircraft (LCAs) came screaming down the runway, bombs and missiles fitted under wings, lifting effortlessly into the sky. As the fighters quickly faded into specks and then out of sight, hundreds of spectators watched two giant projector screens that played out video being transmitted live from the pilots’ cockpits.

As the pilots positioned for their air-to-ground attack mission, the commentator revealed their target --- the spectators’ shamiyana. The screen showed the view from the pilot’s head-up display (HuD) as he locked his navigation-attack system onto the target. Even as both fighters simulated a successful bomb release, a third Tejas closed in behind them. This was a friendly fighter on an air-to-air mission, tasked to shoot down the intruders. The projector screens switched to the pilot’s helmet mounted display system (HMDS), which allows him to aim his weapons merely by looking at the target. In seconds, the intruders were in the “no-escape zone” of his R-73 air-to-air missiles. Mission accomplished!

Also accomplishing a mission today were hundreds of technicians, engineers and scientists, who cheered wildly from the spectator stands as the three Tejas turned in for their final approach and landed smoothly, their arrestor parachutes streaming out behind them. Twenty-eight years of toil, heartbreak and eventual success had culminated this day, when the Tejas LCA obtained its initial operational certificate (IOC), entitling it to be a part of the IAF fighter fleet.

“As an Indian I feel proud to stand here on the occasion of the IOC of Tejas,” said Dr RK Tyagi, the chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), who has been one of the hard-drivers behind Tejas flight-testing through this year, which saw a record-breaking 500 test-flights conducted.

The programme to build a LCA began in 1985, although serious funding started only in Jan 1993. So far, about Rs 7,000 crore have been spent on the IAF version, which obtained its IOC today. Development continues separately of a naval version, which will fly from the navy’s aircraft carriers.

The Tejas, as the LCA was named, is a light fighter, a category that broadly includes fighters under 14 tonnes in weight. It was planned to replace the IAF’s fleet of MiG-21, which is gradually being retired. The MiG-21 FL, a variant that was the IAF’s first supersonic fighter, retired from service on December 11. Other variants continue in service, but are unlikely to fly beyond 2017-18.

While the IAF was initially reluctant to introduce the Tejas into operational service in large numbers, it eventually ordered two squadrons (40 fighters) of the Tejas Mark I. HAL will manufacture these on a high-tech new production line in Bangalore. The HAL chief stated today that the initial production target of 8 fighters per year would soon be ramped up to 16 aircraft annually.

The IAF has additionally committed to ordering another four squadrons of the LCA Mark II, a more powerful, capable, version of the current Mark I fighter. The Tejas Mark I’s General Electric F-404IN engine would be replaced by a F-414 engine; and the mission avionics and weapons would be significantly upgraded.

The IAF chief stated, “(T)he final goal for all of us is not just the LCA Mk I, but the LCA Mk II.  While our air warriors are fully geared up to induct and operationalise the two Mark I squadrons, IAF keenly looks forward to induction of four squadrons of LCA MK II as the final version in its projected force structure.” 

In addition to the six squadrons (108-120 fighters) committed by the IAF, the navy is expected to induct 40-50 fighters. Mr Antony stated today that about 200 Tejas would eventually be inducted.

The immediate objective for the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), The Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) setup that is developing the Tejas, is to obtain Final Operational Clearance (FOC), which would signify that the fighter is fully kitted and cleared for combat. Mr Antony has set a target of December 31, 2014 for FOC.

Urging ADA to meet that deadline, DRDO chief, Dr Avinash Chander, stated today, “Those who perform will be asked to perform more. The Team Tejas will have to now sprint the last lap towards FOC. The FOC will equip Tejas with in-flight refuelling, beyond visual range missiles, a new close combat missile, gun GSH2, additional weapons and new drop tanks for supersonic flight.”

Perhaps the finest certification of the Tejas’ capability comes from its test pilots, veterans of the National Flight Test Centre who test-fly the fighter everyday. Says Group Captain Suneet Krishna, who has nurtured the Tejas for years, “This is a pilot’s aircraft. It flies beautifully, and the avionics are excellent. There is a huge flow of information coming in to the pilot and the avionics processes that and presents it to the pilot far better than most other fighters.” 

13 comments:

  1. A small step yet a giant leap for Tejas and its team. Cheers.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. When will Army chief accept Arjuna tanks and state the same i.e. Indian army is looking
    forward to induct more and work with DRDO to improve it too.

    Army needs to learn from Navy and Airforce.
    If we can build fighters and Nuke submrines, Rifles , Artillery and Tanks should not be big problem.
    Maybe we are getting some imported junk for too low price in case of Army equipment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations. What will be the comparable aircraft to Tejas, Mig-21 bison? Anybody know this?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Victor Raj, Tejas is much superior to the MiG-21 Bison. In fact, it is superior to even the MiG-29 and MiG-27 in avionics, and range-payload capability. After FoC, it shall have the ability to fire R-77, mid-air refueling ability and some more.

    Then, all MiGs in IAF shall head to scrap yard and a few ok-looking ones can go to public playgrounds and museums.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kudos to DRDO. Looking forward to the FOC and to an omni-present and potent role for the Tejas in the future. Heres also to a sucessful Tejas-II and NLCA. Lets show the world how to build great aircraft!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The indegenious part of tejas will be highlighted well in the coming years when on one hand the MiG 21 variants will started to be phased out, lowering further strength of the IAF and US puts sanctions at the right time and thus the GE engines will not be delivered for the Tejas.

    Anyone talking of the tejas being more than a MiG 21 FL is seriously joking...

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Abhiman: Thanks for the reply.
    Leaving out the Software and avionics, LCA Tejas MK1 capability
    is comparable to MIG 27, that is a good achievement for India, as this is the first indigenous aircraft we have built. So Tejas MK2 will be comparable to Saab's Gripen NG right.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations to all concerned.
    But why only eight aircrafts will be manufactured initially. HAL must set up facility for manufacturing twenty LCAs per year initially. They must manufacture six trainer aircrafts during the first year.
    I wish to bring to the notice of all Indians that the indigenous, battle tested Marut Aircraft (HF24) was retired by few IAF officers in collusion with politicians. Think of India's power with Marut Mark IV (as on date it would have achieved Mark IV configuration) and Tejas in service.
    I also want to stress upon the fact that Tejas can not be fully successful without Kaveri engine.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Heartiest Congrats India! A great achievement for India Aerospace Industry. Not a small but huge jump in Design and manufacturing technology. Sky is no more the limit.Greater things to come.Jai Hind.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Victor Raj, including the software and avionics, the Tejas Mk1 is superior to both, MiG-27 and MiG-29. In range-payload ability, it matches well with them.

    Yes, Tejas Mk2 shall compare well with Gripen NG. It shall even compare well with F-16 Block 52 C/D (sans the ability to carry nukes).

    ReplyDelete
  11. As always, very well written. Thank you Ajai Sir.

    This is an achievement for India and a heartening moment. I hope we are soon able to produce more fighters per year while maintaining quality standards.
    - Tanuj, Noida

    ReplyDelete
  12. @Abhiman: Mig-29, great, India producing a aircraft comparable to F-16 WOW.

    ReplyDelete

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