The good news is that No. 18 squadron, ‘Flying Bullets’ which was operationalised May 27 this year with the first FOC version of LCA MK I, “will receive two more ‘FOC’ aircraft (SP-22 and SP-23), perhaps within a week.” This was revealed by Dr Girish Deodhare, Distinguished Scientist, Programme Director (Combat Aircraft) & Director Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) September 30, during a webinar on ‘Energising Indian Aerospace Industry’ in New Delhi. He went on to state that HAL was committed to fully equip the first two Tejas squadrons (20 IOC + 20 FOC) that include 16 single-seat fighters and four twin-seat trainers each, by 2022-23.
Conceding to the inordinate delays at various stages of the Tejas programme, Dr Deodhare stated that both DRDO, i.e. ADA and HAL were well onto positive sides of the learning curves and henceforth, not only the current programmes that should run smoothly but, it would also be possible to telescope future development by running different programmes concurrently. He was alluding to not only the different versions of the Tejas but also the futuristic indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) 5th generation, stealth aircraft programme.
To redux, after the IAF’s more than a decade old initial order of 40 LCA Mk I aircraft to give a boost to the Tejas programme, which incidentally, is yet to fully fructify; IAF in another bold move in 2018 had formally committed to buying 324 Tejas aircraft of all versions provided HAL and ADA could deliver an acceptable quality of the much touted Tejas MK II in time. This included the MK IA version offered by HAL (with the same under-powered GE404 engine but substantial improvements in other facets of its operational capabilities and, ease of maintenance) and initiated a tender to buy 83 MK IA aircraft from HAL worth about Rs 33,000 crore. However, with HAL quoting a base price very much higher than the Mark 1 – that shocked not only the IAF but MOD too – the whole process got stuck over price negotiations.
It took more than two years of intense bargaining to bring HAL on the same table, resulting in the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) clearing the procurement package deal for 83 Tejas Mk 1A, including 73 single-seat fighters and 10 dual-seat trainers for Rs 39,000 crore ($5.2 billion). According to Dr Deodhare, there are no more glitches left in the contract. “Mk IA’s system design works are already in progress which will be completed by February 2021”, he stated. A total of 200 flight trials are planned with upgraded systems on two limited series production (LSP) aircraft, while final configuration for Tejas Mark 1A will be ready for production by 2022-23. The major improvements on Tejas Mark 1A, as mentioned earlier, are in operational roles with the addition of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, unified electronic warfare suite (UEWS), self-protection jammer (SPJ), Astra Mark 1, ASRAAM, digital 2D and 3D moving maps, integration of GNSS augmentation like GAGAN and additional GLONASS, NAVIC satellite navigation systems. On the maintenance front, to improve its turnaround time and ease of long-term maintainability, new set of cables will be incorporated in Tejas Mark 1A to add space inside aircraft while a technique called panel-in-panel will make components easily accessible and reduce daily inspection (DI) time. The MK IA of course would also have the mid-air refuelling probe to improve its operational range/endurance. HAL proposes to produce these aircraft @ of at least 16 units per annum to complete the contract in the 2028-29 timeframe, by which time it should be ready to start producing the MK II version.
To meet the much stiffer air staff qualitative requirements (ASQR) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), ADA is making substantial changes to the basic Mark1 and Mark 1A air-frame to improve payload and performance in the more advanced Tejas MK II, upgrading its weight-class to Medium category in the process. It would be a true replacement of the upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft, currently being fielded by the IAF. To offset the additional weight, as also improve its performance, Tejas Mk II will be powered by the bigger General Electric F414-GE-INS6 engine in the 100 kN thrust class with afterburner. The aircraft would have enhanced capabilities to match up with the IAF’s AQSR, with upgraded AESA radar, internal UEWS, IRST and MAWS. It would also have enhanced range and endurance with inflight refuelling and OBOGS (On-Board Oxygen Generating System). It would also have higher weapon carrying capability with integration of heavy stand-off weapons SCALP, Crystal Maze and SPICE-2000, etc.
Dr Deodhare confirmed that Tejas MK II’s configuration already stands frozen, its System Architecture completed and now, the detailed design is in progress. The Mk II’s development action plan calls for prototype roll-out by July 2022 and first flight in early 2023. Interestingly, this would coincide with the time when the MK IA would just be entering the serial production phase.
Sounds too ambitious?! Not at all according to Dr Deodhare. In a bid to compress timeframes, even in the case of the much advanced AMCA 5th generation, twin-engine, stealth aircraft, feasibility studies have been completed and configuration frozen in parallel. CDR completion is planned by December 2021, roll out in 2024 and first flight in 2025. In other words, both Tejas MK II and AMCA prototypes could be flying in the same skies, while pursuing their individual flight-test programmes.
A jaw-dropping scenario indeed. No?!
–Air Marshal VK ‘Jimmy’ Bhatia (Retd)
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