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]
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]
Related development
Related lists
Features and analysis:
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