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HAL Tejas

The HAL Tejas (Sanskrit: ISO: Tējasa, lit.'Radiance') is an Indian single-engine, 4.5 generation delta wing multirole[10] combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy.[11][12] Tejas made its first flight in 2001 and entered into service with the IAF in 2015.[13][14] In 2003, the aircraft was officially named 'Tejas'.[15] Currently Tejas is the smallest and lightest in its class of supersonic combat aircraft.[16]

Tejas is the second supersonic combat aircraft developed by HAL after the HF-24 Marut.[17] The first Tejas squadron became operational in 2016. The No. 45 Squadron IAF - Flying Daggers was the first to have their MiG-21 Bisons replaced with the Tejas.[18]


Tejas has three production variants - Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A and Tejas trainer/light attack aircraft. The IAF currently has placed an order for 123 Tejas and is planning to procure 97 more.[19] The IAF plans to procure at least 324 aircraft or 18 squadrons of Tejas in all variants, including the heavier Tejas Mark 2 which is currently being developed.[20]


As of 2022, the indigenous content in the Tejas Mark 1 is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by the number of line replaceable units.[21] The indigenous content of the Tejas Mk 1A is expected to surpass 70% in the next four years.[22]

According to HAL Chairman and Director R Madhavan, the design activity of Tejas Mark 1A is moving ahead, and the testing of subsystems will be completed by 2021. The taxi trials will commence in the first half of 2022, and the first flight of Mark 1A prototype will happen in the second half of 2022.

[88]

On 20 May 2022, the Tejas Mark 1A prototype completed its first flight.[90] HAL intends to obtain a certificate from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) within 30 months before this version enters mass production.

[89]

On 28 March 2024, the first production series Mark 1A aircraft conducted its inaugural flight. The aircraft will undergo more testing before being officially transferred to the IAF.[92]

[91]

The first Tejas Mark 1A, originally scheduled for delivery on 31 March 2024, will now arrive in July 2024 as a result of the delay in obtaining necessary certifications. In FY2024–25, HAL will deliver 16 fighter jets. Afterwards, 16 jets will be produced by the production line and 8 by the Nashik production line. Total 87 jets are expected to be delivered by 2028.[93]

Bengaluru

Design

Overview

The Tejas is a single-engine multirole combat aircraft which has a tailless, compound delta wing design with "relaxed static stability" for enhanced manoeuvrability and agility. The Tejas is a multi-role combat aircraft and its flexibility permits it to carry out Interception, air-to-surface and anti-shipping roles in a single mission.[131] The wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics analysis have optimised the design of Tejas for minimum transonic and supersonic wave drag, as well low wing-loading.[29]

31 March 2006 - Indian Government on behalf of the Indian Airforce placed an initial order for twenty LCA Tejas, from HAL, for delivery by December 2011. The order comprised 4 twin seat trainers, and 16 single seat LCA. Delivery of the last three aircraft of the order is expected in 2024.[183]

[182]

23 December 2010 - Indian Government ordered twenty additional LCA Tejas, from HAL, for delivery by December 2016. The order stipulated four additional trainers, and 16 single seat LCA.

[182]

27 January 2021 - Indian Government signed an order for 83 HAL Tejas, comprising 10 additional twin seat trainers, and 73 single seat MK1A LCA.

[184]

16 September 2023

[185]

12 March 2024: A Tejas from the (Flying Bullets) of the Indian Air Force crashed near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan during an operational training sortie. Pilot ejected safely and no one was harmed.[260][261] The crash was the first for the indigenously built aircraft in its operational history of around 8 years and the first since its maiden flight 23 years ago.[262][263]

No. 18 Squadron

TD-1 (KH2001) – 4 January 2001.[264]

[45]

TD-2 (KH2002) – 6 June 2002.

[45]

Indian Air Force

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Crew: 1 or 2

Length: 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)

Wingspan: 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)

Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)

Wing area: 38.4 m2 (413 sq ft)

Empty weight: 6,560 kg (14,462 lb)

Gross weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb)

[304]

Fuel capacity: 2,458 kg (5,419 lb)3,060 L (670 imp gal; 810 US gal) internal; 2 × 1,200 L (260 imp gal; 320 US gal), 800 L (180 imp gal; 210 US gal) drop tank inboard, 725 L (159 imp gal; 192 US gal) drop tank under fuselage

Payload: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) – 5,300 kg (11,700 lb) external stores[304][306]

[305]

Powerplant: 1 × afterburning turbofan with FADEC, 48.9 kN (11,000 lbf) thrust [307] dry, 85 kN (19,000 lbf) with afterburner[308][309]

General Electric F404-GE-IN20

Data from Tejas,[301] DRDO Techfocus,[302] Jane's All the World's Aircraft,[140] DFI Tejas Mk-1A[303]


General characteristics


Performance


Armament



Avionics

HAL Tejas timeline

HAL AMCA

HAL HLFT-42

Related development


Related lists

Media related to HAL Tejas at Wikimedia Commons

Archived 27 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine

Official Government of India Tejas site

Features and analysis:


Technical:


General: