Tejas is a single engine, light weight, highly agile, multi-role supersonic fighter. It has quadruplex digital fly-by-wire Flight Control System (FCS) with associated advanced flight control laws. 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 composites in the airframe gives a high thrust to weight ratio, long fatigue life and low radar signatures. Aeronautical Development Agency is the designated project manager for the development of LCA.
History
The Govt of India started the LCA programme in 1983 with the short-term goal to replace the ageing Mig-21’s and enhance the aeronautical culture as a long term goal.
The main problems they faced were-
a) Fly-by-wire FCS
b) Advance radar
c) Engine
The maiden flight took place on 4th January 2001. The IAF placed an order for 40 LCA Tejas aircraft. These were equipped with F404-GE-IN20 engine. In 2007, Tejas limited series production Tejas performed supersonic flight (mach 1.1 to be specific). The Same year it also test fired R-73 missile and the litening pod. In 2008 it cleared the high-alti tests at Leh and hot weather tests at Nagpur.
In 2011 it was given IOC-1 by then defence minister A K Antony. The first squadron with Tejas was raised in Bengaluru (eventually shifted to Sulur Air Force Station, Coimabatore), the No. 45 squadron Flying Daggers was the first to get the Tejas mk1. IOC-2 was given in 2015 which allowed regular airfoce pilots to fly the jet and begin regular squadron service. The FOC was given to tejas on 20th Jan 2019 during the ongoing AeroIndia show. The FOC variant came with an aerial refulling probe and were cleared for +9g limit. The No.18 squadron the Flying Bullets was formed at Sulur Airforce Station with the first four aircraft with FOC clearance.
Specifications
Length-13.2 m
Wing Span-8.2 m
Height-4.4 m
Max Take of Weight-13.5 t
Payload-5.3 t
Speed-1.6 M
Radius of Action-300 km
Takeoff distance-1700 m
Landing distance-1300 m
Service Ceiling-16 km
Empty weight- 6,560 kg (14,462 lb)
Gross weight-9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
Power Plant-
GE 404F2/J-IN20 (1 in no.) (General Electric)
Turbofan engine
Max. Thrust : 5618 kg
Weapons
Tejas has 8 hardpoints, one beneath the port-side intake trunk for targeting pods, 6 under-wing, and one under-fuselage with a capacity of 5,300 kg.
The air-to-air missiles include Astra BVRAAM, Vympel R-77 and R-73. The air-to-surface missiles are Kh-59ME TV guided stand-off missile and Kh-59MK laser-guided stand-off missile.
A 23mm twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon is also mounted on the aircraft.
Tejas mk1A
The Tejas mk1a is more indigenous compared to the former mk1.
A major difference will be the on board radar system. Tejas mk1a will have AESA radar ELM 2052.
The weight of the Tejas mk1a has been reduced by 1000kgs compared to tejas mk1.
Electronic warfare pod: The Mk1A will carry the ELL 8222 SPJ (Self-protection Jammer) pod on the external hardpoint to jam enemy’s radar guided missiles. This is the same pod that is carried by the Su-30MKI for self-protection.
The Indian Air Force placed order for 83 Tejas mk1A aircraft (which includes 73 aircraft in standard configuration and 10 trainer version) during the Aero India show in Bengaluru in Feb 2021. The deal is valued at Rs 48,000 crore making it the biggest make in India contract till date. This raises the total number of Tejas to 123 (80+40) in the IAF’s inventory. According to the contract the first Tejas is to be delivered within the first three years of signing the deal and the deliveries will be completed in 9 years.
Tejas mk2
The Tejas mk2 is a medium weight fighter. The aircraft is still under development and the first flight is expected in 2023.
Why so much delay?
When the project was initially started in 1983 the deadline for the maiden flight was set at 1994 which was delayed by 7 years to 2001. This was the main delay which the programme endured. The period from the initial flight to induction was required for testing which is very crucial for any country making such advance fighter jet for the first time.
Conclusion
Tejas is not a perfect aircraft but it does its job pretty well. The main aim of the LCA programme was to develop an indigenous aircraft to replace the ageing Mig-21s. The Tejas programme has created an ecosystem for aeronautical development in the country and will significantly reduce the time for further development of aircrafts.
Term breakdown-
1. Agile- It means nimble/quick in movement.
2. Multi-role- A multi-role combat aircraft is intended to do different roles in combat like air reconnaissance, suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) etc.
3. Fly by wire system - It is a computer-controlled flight control system when a pilot moves the flight controls, the movements are converted into electrical signals and sent through the aircrafts computers that move the flight control surfaces. These systems require less maintenance and are lighter compared to the traditional hydraulic systems and overall, more effective control of a necessarily highly manoeuvrable airplane.
Quadruplex means it has four different flight control computers with independent power supply.
4. Delta Wing- It is basically wing in the shape of triangle similar to Greek letter delta.
5. IOC- Initial Operation clearance
6. FOC – Final Operation clearance
コメント