Ministry of Defence and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) has inked a contract for the procurement of the Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft. The deal is signed as per the ‘Buy(India-IDDM)’ vertical of the Defence Acquisition Procedure of 2020. The contract worth Rs. 62,370 is also deemed as one of the largest deals inked for the purchase of indigenous fighter aircrafts.
The deal comes in the wake of the retirement of the last two fighter jets in the MiG-21 squadron and as the Defence Ministry seeks to fulfill the voids in the sanctioned squadron strength of the Indian Airforce. The latest contract with the HAL for Tejas Mk-A1 aims to capitalize the operational capabilities of the IAF with Indigenous defence technologies. The contract seeks to purchase 68 single-seat fighter aircraft and 29 twin-seat trainers, cumulating to a total of 97 aircrafts. The delivery of the fighter aircrafts are scheduled to commence from 2027-28 and will span over a period of six years.
In 2021, a similar contract was signed to procure 83 Tejas Mk-A1 fighter aircrafts worth Rs. 46,898. As per the latest deal, the aircrafts will have 64 per cent of indigenous content and will also have 67 additional enhanced features compared to the 2021 contract. The aircraft will be equipped with UTTAM AESA radar that has detection range upto 150kms and will provide superior combat awareness. It will also have Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare suit and indigenously developed control surface actuators.
As per the reports, more than 100 companies are involved in the end-to-end supply chain of the Tejas Mk-A1 aircraft. Thus, the manufacturing process of the aircraft is said to generate nearly 12,000 jobs during the period of the contract both directly and indirectly.
Most importantly, Tejas Mk-A1 are said to bridge the deficit in the squadron strength of the Indian Airforce. As per the latest assessment the prevailing operational squadron strength of the IAF is 29 squadrons’, each containing 16-18 aircrafts. However, the recommended squadron strength to fully realize the operational efficiency of the IAF is 42.5 squadrons. Thus, currently there is a huge cliff between available squadrons and the recommended or necessitated squadrons. Infact, an internal assessment conducted by the IAF post-Operation Sindoor also assert that even 42.5 squadrons will not be sufficient enough in the coming decades to successfully defend against the adversaries, given the spiking geopolitical fragility.
Tejas Mk-A1 is an upgraded version of the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft produced by the HAL. It is equipped with advanced avionics, radar system, enhanced electronic warfare systems and digital fly-by wire system. Tejas Mk-1A is also capable of carrying Beyond Visual Range(BVR) missiles, air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles and advanced Short-range air-to-air missiles. Tejas Mk-1A is powered with F404-IN20 engine manufactured by the GE Aerospace.
The Tejas Mk-1A is also characterized as the fifth-generation fighter aircraft capable of operating in heavily contested combat zones and difficult terrains due to its smallest, lightest and tailless appearance. They travel at supersonic speed with radar-jamming capabilities and self-protection systems. It also has air-to-air refueling capacity and has a range of 3,000km with the ability to carry maximum 4000kg of payloads.
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