This marks a crucial step in addressing the IAF’s dwindling fighter jet inventory. The Tejas Mk 1A, an advanced version of the LCA, is poised to enhance the IAF’s capabilities with its modernized features and improved performance.
State is getting set for the delivery of the long-awaited Light Combat Aircraft `Tejas’ Mk 1A combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) next month.
This marks a crucial step in addressing the IAF’s dwindling fighter jet inventory. The Tejas Mk 1A, an advanced version of the LCA, is poised to enhance the IAF’s capabilities with its modernized features and improved performance.
Sources within the defence and security establishment have confirmed that the necessary modifications to the Israeli software integrated into the Tejas have been finalized, and the aircraft is undergoing final trials.
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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-run aerospace manufacturer responsible for producing the Tejas, initially planned to commence deliveries in March, following a contract signed in February 2021. However, as reported earlier, the first flight of the Tejas Mk 1A only occurred in March this year, necessitating additional trials before the aircraft could be handed over to the IAF. Consequently, the delivery has been postponed by at least four months due to software changes requested by the IAF.
Timeline of the Delays
The Tejas program has faced numerous delays since its inception in 1983. The original goal was to introduce the aircraft by 1994, but the first prototype only took to the skies in 2001. The Tejas received initial operational clearance in December 2013, and the IAF accepted its first operational aircraft in 2019. Of the 40 Tejas aircraft initially ordered, four are still pending delivery.
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Following an agreement with IAF in 2015 when Manohar Parrikar was the defence minister the Tejas Mk 1A was introduced. The Mk 1A version includes significant upgrades over its predecessor, including an advanced electronic radar, enhanced communication systems, the capability to deploy Beyond Visual Range Missiles, and improved maintenance features. The IAF has also expressed interest in acquiring an additional 97 Mk 1A aircraft.
In view of the growing delays, in an effort to meet future demands, the IAF has proposed a public-private partnership (PPP) model to establish additional production lines for the Tejas. Recently, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary has stressed the need to expand production capabilities to match the IAF’s requirements. The plan involves diversifying production lines and exploring joint ventures with private sector partners to support the induction of nearly 300 Tejas variants over the next fifteen years.
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This strategic move aims to bolster the IAF’s fighter fleet while fostering collaboration between public and private sectors in India’s aerospace industry.
