LCA TEJAS

LCA TEJAS

News: Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas completed seven years of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF) on July 1.

Background of LCA Tejas programme:
• The LCA programme was started by the Government of India in 1984 to replace ageing Mig 21 fighter planes. The government established the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) (under the Department of Defence Research and Development) to manage the LCA programme.
• It is designed by ADA and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• After more than a decade of trials, the first jet was finally inducted by the IAF in 2016 in the No. 45 squadron 'Flying Daggers'.
• In 2020, the No.18 squadron 'Flying Bullets' became the second squadron to start operating the jet.

What is Tejas MK-I?
• The Tejas Mk-1 is light supersonic multirole jet, capable of doing multiple missions including - airdefence (air-to-air), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), air-interdiction (striking enemy targets deep into enemy territory) and maritime strike and reconnaissance missions.
• It is a fourth-generation fighter with critical operational capabilities such as an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an electronic warfare (EW) suite, and air-to-air refuelling (AAR)
• It can carry a range of modern weapons, including beyond visual range (BVR) missiles, precision guided and standoff weapons, and air-to-ground munitions.
• Air-to-air refuelling capability, carefree handling, enhanced manoeuvrability, multi-mode airborne radar, and self-protection suite.
• Maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg, Maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and the range of the aircraft is 3,000 km.

Key Variants:
• Tejas Trainer: 2-seater operational conversion trainer for training air force pilots.
• LCA Navy: Twin- and single-seat carrier-capable for the Indian Navy.
• LCA Tejas Navy MK2: Phase 2 of the LCA Navy variant.
• LCA Tejas Mk-1A: Improvement over the LCA Tejas Mk1 with a higher thrust engine.
• LCA Mk2 is an upgraded version of the LCA Tejas Mk1. It will replace Jaguars, MiG-29s, and Mirage 2000s.
The General Electric GE-414 engine (from the USA) will power the LCA Mk2.

What is importance of LCA Tejas for India?
• The LCA Tejas has been praised for its agility, maneuverability, low maintenance cost, and high survivability.
• It has also been tested in various scenarios, such as high-altitude operations, hot weather trials, weapon firing trials, and maritime trials.
• The LCA Tejas programme is also expected to have a positive impact on the Indian economy, as it involves more than 500 Indian companies, including public sector units, private sector firms, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
• The LCA Tejas programme is not only a matter of pride for India, but also a strategic asset for its defence and security. The recent approval of the purchase of 73 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets and 10 trainer aircrafts by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for Rs 48,000 crore is a testament to the importance of LCA Tejas for India.
• Countries such as Egypt, Sri lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Argentina, UAE, Indonesia have shown interest in buying LCA TEjas thus reflecting its Export potential.

Do we have enough fighter jets?
• The IAF presently has 32 squadrons (16-18 planes each) of fighter jets against the 42 needed to tackle a collusive two-front threat against Pakistan and China.
• Over the next two-three years, all four squadrons (each one has 16-18 planes) of the Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets will retire.
• The IAF’s Jaguar, MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 jet fleets — all inducted in phases during the 1980s — are slated to retire in batches beyond 2029-30.
• These four types of jets are about 250 in number and are operating on an extended lifecycle.
Source – Indian Express, Outlook India, The Print