LCA Tejas - Birth of Indian Fighter Aircraft

LCA Tejas -Birth of Indian Fighter Aircraft

Tejas, India's very own Light Combat Aircraft has achieved an important milestone by gaining Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). This has authenticated the Indian aircraft's airworthiness. The birth of India's first fighter aircraft is thus certified. Tejas is part of Indian presence in Aero Show 2011.
The Defence Minister A K Antony was proud to say that IOC to Tejas is a momentous occasion that the nation has been waiting for towards building our own multi-role combat aircraft. He Pointed out that a state-of-the-art indigenous combat aircraft would go a long way in enhancing national security and the pride of the nation. The Defence Minister noted that the country was poised for a major turning point with the declaration of IOC of Tejas. This is for the first time an indigenously designed and developed military fighter aircraft has been certified for Indian Air Force.

Tejas - A Profile :
LCA Tejas -Birth of Indian Fighter Aircraft

'Tejas' is the smallest, light weight, single engine, single seat, supersonic, multirole, combat aircraft, best in its class in the world. 'Tejas' Programme is spearheaded by Aeronautical Development Agency under the Ministry of Defence R & D, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as its principal partner and with participation of a large number of Laboratories of Defence Research & Development Organisation and Central Scientific & Industrial Research, certification agencies, Indian Air Force, academic institutions and Private/Public Sector Undertakings.
This fourth generation combat aircraft has Carbon Composites, light weight/high strength material for primary structures, quadruplex Digital Flight Control System, glass Cockpit and digital Avionics to give multirole capabilities with carefree maneuvering. These capabilities are further enhanced by several on-board Sensors, Communication and Navigation Systems that are supported by powerful Mission Computers and Cockpit Display System.
Combat variant, Trainer variant and Naval variants of Tejas are being developed for land and carrier borne operations. Powered by GE-F404 Engine, Tejas has tailless compound delta configuration. It is aerodynamically optimized for good transonic manoeuvres and low supersonic drag. Tejas avionics has a unique built-in feature of monitoring health of on-board Systems and displaying appropriate warnings to the Pilot. A number of software packages as well as design and analysis tools have been developed under 'Tejas' Programme. During the last one decade two Technology Demonstrators, four Prototype Vehicles and five Limited Series Production aircraft were produced. The hot weather, cold weather, Sea level, high altitude conditions of the aircraft were successfully tested. It has completed over 1500 flights. The cost of each Tejas is around rupees 200 crores.

Major achievements :
LCA Tejas -Birth of Indian Fighter AircraftTejas incorporates a wide range of advanced Sensors, Weapons, Stores and Electronic Warfare suite for obtaining Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). Air-to-Ground Weapons and Air-to-Air Close Combat Missiles have been released from Tejas. Sea level trials were completed at Arrakonam & Goa. Hot weather trials, in two phases completed at Nagpur. Cold weather & high altitude flight trials carried out successfully at Leh. Phase I of Night flying trials is completed. The additional weapons beyond Visual Range, Gun, Rockets, Guided & Un-Guided Bombs on Tejas are integrated.

Indigenization :
Tejas is 65% Indian right now. But Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister Dr.V K Saraswat has promised that by the time the aircraft gets Final Operational clearance, the indigenization will reach 75%. The main worry is the powerful engine required for the aircraft. Right now the aircraft uses engine made by an American company. But DRDO is developing a suitable engine for our aircrafts called Kaveri. The Kaveri engine is undergoing tests in Russia and will be brought back to India after certification. Dr. Saraswat disclosed that no country opts for 100% indigenization as it is not cost effective and needs huge infrastructure. Hence, he explained that the main structure and sub-systems of the aircraft are indigenized and the remaining parts are imported.
LCA Tejas - Indian Fighter Aircraft
The Roll out plan:
Tejas Series Production Programme leading to production of initial batch of 20 aircraft is in progress. The limited series production aircraft 7 and 8 will be available for user evaluation by Indian Air Force from March onwards. Induction of series production aircraft would commence from July 2011 onwards. The Managing Director of HAL Ashok Naik has informed that by December this year four aircrafts will be produced. All the 20 aircraft would be delivered by 2013 and the next 20 aircraft in about 2 1/2 years after that. The next batch of 20 Tejas Series Production Aircraft for second squadron will be produced after getting the Final Operational Certificate. The Final Operational Clearance of Tejas Mark 1 is expected in 2012. The Trainer variant of Tejas is likely to get its Initial Operation Clearance by end of this year. Development of Tejas Mark 2 aircraft with alternate engine GE-F414 has been initiated. Tejas Mark 2 with higher thrust engines would have its first flight by December 2014. Maiden flight of Tejas Mark 2 is planned during this time. Production version of Mark 2 is planned in June 2016. IAF has projected a requirement of 83 Tejas Mark 2 aircraft. Overall funds allocation for development and production of Tejas is of the order of Rs 25000/- crores. The supersonic fourth generation fighter will form a 200-strong fleet for the IAF to replace its ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet and increase the squadron strength to 10 as a potent strike force over the next two decades. The two squadrons of 20 Tejas each will be stationed at Sulur near Coimbatore and Kayathur near Tuticorin both in Tamilnadu.
LCA Tejas - Indian Fighter Aircraft
All the development product support equipment & facilities are progressing satisfactorily under the guidance of Indian Air Force. Extensive state-of-the-art design simulation and analysis facilities have been built for various sub systems design as well as aircraft design. Under the programme, aeronautical base is established in the country for future programme. The successful completion of the above programmes will lead the country towards self reliance thereby saving on cost and giving us an edge over others.

Su-30MKI Vs. LCA Tejas-Two Best Fighters in Indian Air Force

Su-30MKI Vs. LCA Tejas

Su-30MKI









LAC Tejas







Sukhoi-30 MKI and  LCA Tejas Both are best fighter in Indian Air Force. Comparing means to know something better than previous by relating  with other. To know more clearly about these two aircrafts we make a comparison of Su-30MKI Vs. LCA Tejas.
Su-30MKI is the heavy , all weather , twin finned , long range fighter which introduced in Indian Air force in September 2002 whereas  LCA Tejas is a single-engined multirole fighter with a tailless compound delta wing plan form. It is supersonic and highly manoeuvrable fighter, and it is the smallest and lightest  contemporary combat aircraft. It is introduced in 2010.

Su-MKI Vs. LCA Tejas Engine Comparison

The Su-30MKI is powered by two Al-31FP turbojet engines. Its Each engine generates a full after burn thrust of 27,500 pound. The power plant, equipped with thrust vector control, provides a maximum speed of Mach 1.9 in horizontal flight and a rate of climb of 300m/s.

The aircraft has a maximum unrefuelled flight range of 3,000km at high altitude and 1270 km at low altitude(with no external fuel tanks).but also The in-flight refuelling system of Su-30MKI provides a maximum range of 8,000km with two refuelling whereas LCA Tejas is powered by General Electric F414 afterburning turbofan engine which generates thrust of 22,000 pound And provides a maximum speed of 1.8 Mach. The aircraft has a range of 850 km at low altitude.

Su-MKI Vs. LCA Tejas Design-Airframe

The Su-30MKI is a twin engine aircraft. Its airframe is made up of titanium and high-strength aluminium alloys. The fuselage head made of semi-monocoque construction and includes the cockpit, radar compartments and the avionics bay.
On the other side LCA Tejas is constructed of aluminium-lithium alloys, carbon-fibre composites (C-FC), and titanium-alloy steels. Its fuselage, wings, elevons, tailfin, rudder, air brakes and landing gear doors are made from Carbon-fibre composites which almost comprises of 45% of its airframe by weight.

Su-MKI Vs. LCA Tejas Avionics Equipped

Avionics include Laser-optical locator system and Litening targeting Pod in Su-30MKI.This fighter is fitted with a satellite navigation system which permits it to make flights in all kinds of weathers and even in nights also. Other navigation includes high accuracy SAGEM Sigma-95 integrated global positioning system and ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system.
Whereas LCA Tejas is equipped with  Both GPS and  a ring laser gyro inertial navigation system. And also it is employed with Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN) system .Its avionics include Night vision Goggles(NVG),three 5 x 5  multi-function displays, two Smart Standby Display Units (SSDU) and “GET YOU HOME” PANEL.

Su-MKI Vs. LCA Tejas SPECIFICATIONS

Engine typeSaturn AL-31General Electric F404
Top speedMach 1.9Mach 1.8
Unit cost25,000,000–25,000,000 USD31,000,000–31,090,000 USD (2009)
Length72′43′
Range3,000 km850 km
Weight40,570 lbs14,330 lbs
Wingspan48′27′
First flight2000January 4, 2001
ManufacturersHindustan Aeronautics Limited SukhoiHindustan Aeronautics Limited
IntroducedSeptember 27, 20022010

Armaments

ARMAMENTS

Su-30MKI Armed
Su-30MKI Armed
Su-30MKI
LCA-Tejas Armed
LCA-Tejas Armed
LCA Tejas
Guns1 x GSH-30-1 gun,12 hardpoints1 x GSh -23 canon,8 hardpoints
Missiles1.Air to AIRR-77 ,Astra missile ,R-27ER ,R-27ET ,R-27R , R-27T ,R-73 ,Novator KS-172 AAM-LPhyton 5,Derby,Astra, Vympel R-77,Vympel R-73
2.Air to surfaceKh-59ME,Kh-59MK,Kh-35,Brahmos,,Nirbhay,Kh-31P/A,Kh-29T/A,S-8,S-13Kh-509ME ,Kh-59MK,Kh-35,   Kh-31
BombsKAB-500L,KAB-1500L,FAB-500T, OFAB-250-270,OFAB-100-120,RBK-500KAB-1500L, GBU-16 ,FAB-250,ODAB-500PM,ZAB-250/350,BetAB-500Shp,FAB-500T s,OFAB-250-270 ,OFAB-100-120 ,RBK-500

Pakistan’s JF-17 V/S India’s LCA-Tejas; Comparison With Latest Figures

The major rival brothers in the world, who have been fighting against each other since their birth, used to fight with foreign weapons earlier, but now they want to fight in a new style, that is with their indigenous weapons.
Pakistan, as a member of US led military pact CENTO and SEATO, started receiving high tech weapons of that time with money to keep an eye on India and launch an assault when needed. Seeing this, India began to import weapons from Soviet Union and started upgrading its force. Both the countries started filling up their inventory at the same time and today both are facing the problems of their ageing fighters aircrafts.
India is in urgent need of replacing its ageing MiG 21 whereas Pakistan is in need of replacing its ageing Nanchang A-5 bombers, Chengdu F-7 interceptors and Mirage III/5 fighters.
India decided to start a project of making an indigenous fighter aircraft that can serve in all purposes of the air force, whereas Pakistan joined later an already going on Chinese project of development of a fighter aircraft.
Both India and Pakistan claim their aircraft as indigenous, but as on April 13, 2011 none of the aircraft is 100% indigenous as India is using american GE engine to power the fighter and Pakistan is using almost all the technology from China and engine from Russia in their version of the fighter.
LCA Tejas (image credits-airliners.net)
LAC Tejas

JF-17 Thunder















LCA vs JF-17
PlaneJF-17LCA
Length14m13.2m
Wingspan9.45m8.20m
Height4.77m4.40m
Wing Area24.4m238.4m2
PlaneJF-17LCA
Empty Weight6,411 kg6560 kg
Loaded Weight9,100kg10,500 kg
Max. Take off Weight12,700 kg13,300 kg
Powerplant1 × Klimov RD-93 or WS-13 turbofan1 × General Electric F404-GE-IN20 turbofan
Dry Thrust49.4Kn53.9Kn
Thrust with Afterburner84.4Kn85Kn
G-limit+8.5 g9 to (neg)3.5 g
Internal Fuel Capacity2300 kg2458 kg
External fuel capacity:3 external fuel drop tanks (1× under-fuselage 800 litres, 2× under-wing 800/1100 litres each) for extended range/loitering time2x1200 litre drop tank at inboard, 1x725 litre drop tank under fuselage.
Crew11


LCA vs JF-17
PlaneJF-17LCA
Maximum speedMach 1.8Mach 1.8
Ferry range3,480 km3,000 km
Service ceiling16,920 m15,250 m
Thrust/weight0.951.0

In A First, Tejas Takes Part In International Air Show

















India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas on Saturday for the first time participated in an international air show, an event witnessed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the Bahraini capital.

Ms Swaraj, who is in Manama on a two-day visit to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum today, went for the air show immediately after landing at the Bahrain International Airport.

On the sidelines of the Bahrain International Air show at Sakhir Airbase, Ms Swaraj also called on Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. She, along with the king, also watched the Sarang helicopter team of the Indian Air Force in action.

After the indigenously-developed Sarang demonstrated its capabilities in the skies with four helicopters mesmerizing the huge crowd gathered at the event, Tejas took flight for the first time at an international air show.

Ms Swaraj also visited the India pavilion at the air show where the scientists gave the minister a briefing on Tejas.

The Tejas flight was hailed by officials present at the "historic event".

Tejas - a single-seat, single-jet engine, highly agile multi-role light fighter developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - captivated the audience at the air show with its display in the skies.

Tejas, which had been in the making for over three decades, is a 4.5 generation aircraft with supersonic capability at all altitudes. The aircraft is tailless and has a compound delta wing design powered by a single engine.

It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21  fighters. Later, the LCA was officially named "Tejas" meaning "Radiant" by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

On January 17, 2015, the first Tejas was officially inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF), that plans to
acquire 120 Tejas aircraft, with 100 of them having some major modifications. It wants better radar, new electronic warfare suit, refuelling capacity and improved missiles.

Team Sarang of the IAF showcased the nation's prowess by flying ALH Dhruv helicopter designed and developed by HAL.

Sarang Helicopter Display Team, is the Brand Ambassador of the Indian Air Force since 2003.

The team's maiden public display was at Singapore in the year 2004 and has performed at various international forums at Chile, UAE, Berlin, United Kingdom and numerous venues in India.

The DRDO, along with some of its production partners also displayed India's strength in advanced defence technology areas, with the aim of exploring the potential of exporting these advanced systems to friendly countries in the region.

The display of India's defence technology comes at a time when the government is giving a strong push to its flagship 'Make in India' programme.