IAF to induct 100 more TEJAS Aircraft

Tejas MK1

Changing its long standing stance on the abilities of the Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) Tejas, the Indian Air Force is now convinced that an improved version of the homegrown fighter will be inducted in the IAF. The IAF is placing an order of 100 modified Tejas aircraft in addition to an older order of 20 planes, confident that it would beat the Pakistani competitor JF17 aircraft on four parameters- reach,ability to kill, weapons and survivability. 

But that will be possible only when the Tejas is ready with an AESA(Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, mid-air refuelling , long range beyond visual range missiles and advanced electronic warfare capabilities. Moreover, the single-engine fighter has to undergo 43 "improvements" out of the 57 "weakness" detected in its maintainability, which will ensure it can land and take off again within an hour, the top official said.

All this will take another 3 years at least, further prolonging the already tortuous development saga of the India's first home fighter that began way back in 1983. Even if Hindustan Aeronautics manages to ramp up its production rate to 12 jets from the existing 8 jets per year, all the 120 planes planned for IAF will be inducted only by 2026, i.e next 11 years, the defence officials said.

This line of Tejas will fill an acute shortage as IAF is planning to retire the fleet of Mig-21 and Mig-27 in  decade, which is down to 35 fighter squadrons as per required of 42 squadrons. This will be maintain by 2027 or so. With the limited range of just 400 km, the TTejas will basically be used for "air defence " to take on incoming enemy fighters or "close air-to-ground" operations to support the Army.

"Once HAL andADA assures the design and development of this Tejas Variant, the IAF will step up to order 100 additional aircrafts after the first 20 will be delivered" the official said.

He also added "Tejas will help in plugging the gaps that will further arise after all the existing 10 Mig-21 and 4 Mig-27 squadrons are retired by 2025. It was never meant to replace a MMRCA like Rafale or a heavyweight Sukhoi-30MK1".